Rugby league is a tough game. For the thousands of players who have entertained us over the years only a select few have been able to reach the 300 club of 300 first grade games played.
Melbourne, Queensland and Australian great Cameron Smith will have an opportunity to reach an unprecedented and most likely an unreachable game tally of 400 first grade games this season.
Smith, 35 years of age, has signed on to play for his beloved Storm for another two years.
Love or hate him you must respect the achievement should he reach 400 first grade NRL games. Add in state, international and All-Star games you are looking at an astonishing 500 games!
Only 34 players have passed the 300 game barrier in the history of the NRL. Greats like Peter Sterling, Andrew Johns are not on the list. On the list is Andrew Ettingshausen who played 324 without a Premiership win. The game can be cruel.
Brad Fittler, Darren Lockyer and Terry Lamb, all celebrated and loved players by their club and state supporters headline the list of 300 games as all three reached the heights the game had to offer.
Others like Chris Heighington, Luke Priddis and John Morris make it into the 300 club. Not household known names but rugby league lovers know them and respect them as good honest clubmen.
The nearest active player on the list is Smith's old team mate and Roosters half back Cooper Cronk who sits 4th on the all-time list of games played on 349. Cronk should surpass all except Smith if he stays fit for the 2019 season.
Also on the the 300 game list is Billy Slater who accumulated 319 games before retiring at the end of 2018. Whatever they are doing at the Storm they should bottle it. To have three players reach 300 games they certainly should be admired.
To reach the 300-plus game list comes hard work, dedication and an element of luck. Slater is one that looked as if his career may have ended just short of the milestone but fort back from a series of serious shoulder injuries.
Of the 34 players on the 300 game list, 14 were one-club men. To play your career with the one club in the modern game will be a very hard prospect. Only a select few "franchise" players will get an opportunity to do so in the current 'business first, player second' modern game mantra.
Current players Paul Gallan and John Sutton have reached the 300 game club and will continue to rack up as many as they can before they to have to put away the boots and retire in the next few seasons. Neither look to be a threat to Smith's record.
The NRL needs to celebrate these very rare individuals. The modern gladiators of a very tough game. I hope Smith reaches the 400 games. If he does no matter the team you support or your personal feelings about the man himself we should all celebrate the massive accomplishment.
The 400-game club will be a lonely place. I doubt we will see anyone reach this milestone again.
Who is your favourite player on the 300 games list?
Let me know your thoughts.