Two footy legends, their glamorous WAGS and an EPIC spat - but was it real? Cameron Smith is forced to address vicious rumours that 'crossed the line' and rocked his family
- Cameron Smith says vicious rumours in 2018 'crossed the line' and rocked family
- His wife Barb was questioned about Storm star's relationship with teammates
- She was dragged into the mess amid rumours of a fallout with Billy Slater's wife
By
ZOE ZACZEK and
AIDAN WONDRACZ FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 15:25 AEDT, 21 November 2020 | UPDATED: 19:12 AEDT, 21 November 2020
Cameron Smith says vicious rumours about his relationship with former teammates and his wife's spat with another WAG 'crossed the line' and rocked his family.
The
Melbourne Storm star addressed the 2018 headlines that he fell out with Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater in his book, The Storm Within.
The unwanted media attention came after Cronk moved to Sydney to marry Fox presenter Tara Rushton in December 2017. Cronk parted ways with Storm and joined the Roosters for the 2018 season.
But Smith said he was 'stunned' when his wife and the mother of his three children, Barb, was dragged into the mess amid claims of a bitter feud with Slater's wife.
Cameron Smith is pictured with his wife Bard in 2019. The couple have three children together
Billy Slater is pictured with his wife Nicole in January this year. Smith addressed rumours his wife Barb fell out with the WAG
'Barb was brought into it, again, when stories went around about a spat between her and Billy's wife, Nic, which never happened,' Smith wrote in the book.
'They're good friends to this day. We were stunned. ''Where is this s**t coming from?'' we asked ourselves.
'What was clear was that the stories were being fabricated to fit a narrative: Cameron Smith does not get on with his teammates, and vice versa.
'It couldn't have been any further from the truth, but the more it was written and talked about, the more people seemed to believe it.'
Smith said the couple 'had enough', and recalled a particular incident that set him over the edge.
He was preparing to take on the Warriors in New Zealand in July 2018 when his high school sweetheart was approached by a reporter while unloading groceries.
Pictured: Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk of Storm pose with the trophy during the lap of honour after winning the 2012 NRL Grand Final
The journalist questioned Barb about Smith's 'relationship with his teammates'.
'Barb told him to p**s off – but even so, the episode rocked her,' Smith said.
'Barb was shocked. Why was a reporter approaching her for comment about anything, especially on our property? How did he even know where we lived?
'If I'd been there, I would've given that bloke a mouthful. He had invaded her privacy – her personal space – and in that space were our three children, all of whom felt upset after seeing their mum get rattled.
Smith wrote that things were starting to 'get out of hand'.
'Barb and I live a simple life. We're down-to-earth people doing the best we can. It just so happens that my job has a high profile,' he wrote.
'Away from footy, we just enjoy hanging out at home and being as far from the public eye as possible. This had crossed the line.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...es-rumours-Barbs-spat-Billy-Slaters-wife.html
The Melbourne Storm star addressed the 2018 headlines that he had fallen out with Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater in his book, The Storm Within
The Melbourne Storm captain launched his much-anticipated autobiography The Storm Within at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Monday.
The book has sparked widespread anger and bewilderment as it addresses 'cruel' and 'completely untrue' rumours about having an affair with Fox Sports presenter Yvonne Sampson.
Smith's PR team warned media to avoid the hot topic and to also sidestep questions about his family and wife Barbara,
Courier Mail reported.
The book has gotten off to a rocky start with Smith cancelling 30 pre-planned interviews, because of family concerns, on Tuesday.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...es-rumours-Barbs-spat-Billy-Slaters-wife.html
Cameron Smith addresses rumours of Barb's spat with Billy Slater's wife
