KANGAROOS captain Cameron Smith has called on rugby league's new boss Dave Smith to tackle AFL head-on by putting expansion back on the NRL agenda.
In the countdown to next Saturday's All Stars clash in Brisbane, the highly respected Australian and Storm skipper yesterday spoke exclusively to
The Daily Telegraph about where the game is positioned and, more importantly, where it should be heading.
In a wide ranging interview Smith said if the NRL was serious about being the biggest and best code in the country it must become a truly national game.
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"I think overall everyone would agree we are a bit behind (the AFL) at the moment given they are a truly national game," Smith said.
"They have got teams in Sydney and Queensland and over in WA and South Australia whereas we are down the eastern seaboard and New Zealand.
"If we want to grow the game and we want to be the best code in the country we need to expand.
"There are a lot of people who are for it, we just need to try and make sure the guys in charge are fully aware of that and how much support there is for the game around the country."
Expansion talk was put on hold last year when the NRL released its strategic plan, making it clear no new team would be admitted before 2017.
NRL expansion off the agenda
Smith added: "I saw a comment the other day where he wants to make our code the best sport in the country and I can't see why that can't be.
"We have a great product on field, it is extremely popular on television and we are getting good crowds through the gates as well.
"But I think we need to expand our game.
"I have played in Adelaide and I have played in Perth and there is some pretty good support there. We played at the Adelaide Oval and I think we had close to 20,000 there and over in Perth was sold out on the two occasions we played there."
Smith revealed a recent call from the new boss patched up that embarrassing gaff at Dave Smith's initial press conference, where the former banker conceded he didn't even know who Cameron Smith was.
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"Obviously we spoke about that briefly," Smith laughed.
"I didn't take any offence. I just spoke to him from a player's point of view on where I see the game going. Obviously he wants to move forward and make it a strong business.
"I think we are (heading in the right direction). Obviously we have a pretty significant television deal so we are cashed up. We just have to make some good decisions business-wise."
Smith also backed his coach Craig Bellamy over concerns early scheduling ignored player welfare.
Bellamy declared the reigning premiers were "shafted" when the 2013 draw was announced.
"As Craig said we want to ban the shoulder charge because of player welfare but they don't mind having one of their teams who are representing the NRL travel to England, come back, then send them up to North Queensland and then five days later have to back up again,' Smith said.
"But at the end of the day we will just do our best. We are not going to worry about that any more, we have been told that is what we have to do so we will do it as best we can."
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Despite the gruelling early-season schedule, Smith wants the All Stars to remain as the unofficial season kick-off regardless of fears it is too big a risk for the game's elite players.
Both Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk along with the Gold Coast's Dave Taylor have withdrawn because of injury but Smith said the concept still had the support of players.
"Like any game it needs the backing of the players or it doesn't work," Smith said.
"Obviously the game is the highlight of the week but during the week we have seminars and sessions with indigenous groups and we do a lot of work with kids from rural areas and that is a bit of a kick for us guys too, seeing kids from the bush who rarely get to see NRL footy players.
"I remember when I was a young kid and Darren Lockyer walked past me and I remember thinking; 'Gee, that has made my day. I want to be like him when I'm older'.
"There is always a risk (of injury) but I think a fair few clubs are playing trials on the same weekend."
Smith turns 30 in June but he still believes his best football is to come - and trying to go back-to-back in 2013 is the obvious motivation for the Storm.
"There hasn't been a team that has done it since the NRL banner came in (1998),' he said.
"Teams have gone back-to-back to grand finals but never been able to take that trophy.
"But we are not about worrying about last year and thinking we have to defend this title.
"It is definitely achievable, you shouldn't be in the competition if you don't want to win it but we don't put any expectation on ourselves, we just want to be a good side every time we take the park and make sure we are not beating ourselves."
