Manly legend Max Krilich attacks Cameron Smith ref ‘disgrace’... but does he have a point?Manly legend Max Krilich has given Cameron Smith an incredible serve, claiming the Melbourne skipper is allowed to get away with too much with the game’s referees.Ahead of the Sea Eagles’ clash with the Storm at AAMI Park on Saturday, Krilich believed the match officials are “intimidated” by Smith who wasn’t playing in the “spirit of the game”.Krilich slams Smith“Cameron comes in as the third tackler and is then the last man up. He slows it up to perfection — he’s the master,” Krilich told The Daily Telegraph.“He is third man in, rolling all over the ball. This has gone on for many years.”NRL 360 host Paul Kent reckoned plenty of people would agree with Krilich’s comments.“What Max Krilich has said will resonate with fans around the game,” Kent said.“ … The argument is there’s discretion to how long you can lay on a player and keep him down.“The argument is Cameron Smith is allowed to get away with more than other players in the game.”Manly legend Max Krilich has come out swinging. Picture. Krilich, who played for the Sea Eagles, NSW and Australia across a first grade career from 1970 to 1983, said the referees needed to stand up to the 401-game veteran.“Melbourne lay all over the ball and the players but it’s ruled play on because it’s Cameron,” Krilich said.“He will stand there and complain and the referees will say: ‘Oh, c’mon, Cameron’. It’s just not on. They’ve got to be tough.“What he does isn’t in the spirit of the game — it’s not right — and he is getting away with it.“The referees are scared to penalise him and it seems everything he does is squeaky clean. We need the referees to toughen up. I have no doubt the referees are very intimidated by him.“They are scared of him and it’s a disgrace.”

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  • A lot of truth in what he said. About time someone with a high profile came out in the media and said it.

    • X1 billion 

  • Absolutely Accurate and its why the Melbourne Storm win more games than other teams because they are highly favoured by the referees and it  has a lot to do with Cameron Smith. Everybody sees it, knows it and hopefully by somebody of the calibre of Max Krillich speaking up something may finally be done even if its too little too late! 

  • This reply was deleted.
    • Exactly BrissyEel! the worst part is thats its so frustrating that they blatantly get away with it year after year.

  • He does what he is supposed to do, whatever it takes for his team to win. He's just better at it. No coincidence that Manly are playing Melbourne this weekend.

    • Looking forward to watching the game after Smith retires, the sooner the better. It doesn't hurt that he plays for the Storm who have to make the finals every year to remain relevant in Melbourne.

      • Cant wait either! Hes a manipulator more than a great footballer! He wouldnt have survived previous eras a League with the 5 metre rule, 4 tackle set or unlimited tackle rules. He wouldnt have gotten away with what he does like today.

      • He's the best player of his era, and in the top 3 of the last 40 years IMO. His attention to detail is peerless and he would have been a champion in any era.

        • I often have the old "he would have been a champion in any era argument" with one of my mates about cricket players. Show me some evidence that backs up your claim...

          • In my opinion, if a champion or a sportsperson was the best or amongst the best in their era would most likely hold the same status in any era.
            We can't forget that our former champions were champions competing against the best the world had to offer for the same status.
            Past champions, regardless of era would still be champions, if they had the same technology, training techniques, medical advancements, mental advice, modern equipment, and the option to be full-time athletes, they would still be champions in their chosen sports.
            A champion is a champion, some would argue that a modern athlete has a genetic advantage “Darwin’s theory” but this argument is flawed, a 60’s champion born today would have the same genetic advantage as a current champion.

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