'Shattered': Cameron Smith's response to 'cruel' affair rumours

Future NRL immortal Cameron Smith has finally opened up about the false rumours he was having an affair with Fox Sports presenter Yvonne Sampson, which he claimed left his wife ‘shattered’.

Smith recently put on a courageous display to lead Melbourne to grand final glory against Penrith, despite speculation running rampant about whether he would call time on his career or not.

UPDATE: Truth about 'disgusting' Last Post drama at Origin

DIVIDED: Fans debate NSW hero's act that everyone missed

But as his glittering NRL career reaches the twilight, Smith has touched on some of the headline-grabbing moments that have come with his high-profile career in his autobiography.

One such moment came before the 2018 season, when his manager Isaac Moses warned him about rumours swirling he was having an alleged affair with Sampson.

While all parties denied the allegations, Smith said he “was so taken aback he started laughing”.

But Smith said, while he could handle it, the allegations took a toll on his wife Barbara.

“Honestly, if I was going to have an affair – which I never would – why would I do it with someone with a profile as big as hers? And in my own sport?” the excerpt in his book reads, according to The Courier Mail.

“It was just cruel … rumours that were completely untrue. When I told Barb she was shattered. It floored her.

“I could handle it but I was concerned for her and Yvonne, who had been around our game for a long time and we all know how well-respected she is.

Smith added he felt for Sampson as well as she was about to get married.

Sampson married Channel Nine reporter Chris O’Keefe in October 2018.

Cameron Smith touches on retirement

Smith insists he still hasn’t made a decision about retirement despite the Storm’s NRL grand final win last month.

The 37-year-old has made a record 430 NRL appearances, but appeared to claim in his book he was no closer to knowing whether it was the right time or not.

He pointed to NRL greats such as Billy Slater, Jonathan Thurston and Paul Gallen and their insistence they knew when it was the right time.

But Smith claimed he has not had that moment where he has woken up and said “I just can’t do it”.

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.