In one of the most unexpected developments in recent State of Origin history, Queensland great Cameron Smith has officially confirmed he will come out of retirement to play in Game III of the 2025 Origin series.
The 42-year-old former Maroons captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, was called in after a last-minute injury to starting hooker Harry Grant during a closed training session on Monday night.
Queensland coach Billy Slater told media on Tuesday morning that the decision wasn’t made lightly, but Smith has been quietly involved with the squad over the past month.
> “He’s been helping out behind the scenes and keeping himself in good shape,” Slater said. “When the injury happened, we made the call — and he said yes within minutes. He’s a true Maroon.”
Smith retired from representative football in 2018 but has remained a close advisor to the Maroons setup. His return has already ignited massive buzz across Queensland, with fans calling it “the greatest comeback since Alfie.”
When asked about stepping onto the Origin stage again, Smith kept it short:
> “I never ruled it out completely. And if Queensland needs me — I’m there.”
Kick-off for Game III is set for next Wednesday at Suncorp Stadium, and tickets are already selling out at record speed.
