He’s no Ferrari, but Shark is as reliable as they come
Scott Bailey |
Cameron McInnes has made a career out of not feeling comfortable on a rugby league field.
As Cronulla teammate Addin Fonua-Blake put it recently, for more than a decade “that guy has put his face, and not just his body, on the line every week”.
By McInnes’ own count he has undergone “14 or 15 surgeries” throughout his 243-game NRL career, covering almost every body part with the exception of his shoulders.
All of which, the departing Sharks lock has somewhat enjoyed.
Not because he likes injuries, but the routine and challenge of recovering from them plays right into his hands.
“Some players have to feel like a Ferrari, whereas that’s not me,” McInnes quips.
“I’m not a car man, but I guess I’m some beaten down thing that does the job.
“I’ve just learnt to never feel that good out there.”
For this entire year, McInnes’ approach has had him treating every NRL game as if it may be his last.
It sounds cliche, but last year’s surprise diagnosis of an ACL rupture after playing through the pain and later mowing the lawn has taught McInnes to think that way.
This month though, McInnes does know for sure one game will be his last in the NRL, beginning with Saturday night’s clash against North Queensland.
Bound for York in the English Super League, McInnes has one month to win a maiden premiership.
“It’s really hard, because most footy players are the same. They’re so focused on looking to the next thing,” McInnes said.
“And because the next week is such a massive opportunity for the club, not just me, for the club, it’s still really hard to reflect on (my career) right now.
“I’m not that emotional or sentimental anyway.”
For many, the tough-as-nails McInnes is a throwback to another age of rugby league, where beaten up cars were valued in the same way as Ferraris.
But the South Sydney junior is quick to point out that the faster game in fact helped his career, facilitating a move from hooker to a mobile ball-playing lock.
It was in that role he won a NSW State of Origin jersey in 2024, after narrowly missing out as a dummy-half at St George Illawarra in 2018.
McInnes is adamant players like him will always be needed, if not universally recognised.
“The way that the game’s covered now, which is great entertainment, it’s all about line breaks, tries, those flashy moments,” McInnes said.
“Whereas that’s probably not been the basis of my game.
“If you ask any coach in the NRL they still value that, but it’s just more what the media have to highlight.
“You look at guys that are being talked about and sometimes it’s like, oh yeah, it’s probably because of those moments they have in games.
“But games go for 80 minutes, not 30 seconds.”
AAP