'Crossed the line': Cameron Smith's fury over vile treatment of wife

Cameron Smith has detailed the moment the media “crossed the line” with his wife, while also slamming a nasty rumour about her and Billy Slater’s wife.

Writing in his new autobiography ‘The Storm Within’, the Melbourne Storm champion opens up a tumultuous 2018 which culminated in wife Barb being confronted by a journalist in their front yard.

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Around that time there was intense media scrutiny on Smith and the Storm.

Melbourne’s wrestling and alleged illegal tactics in the ruck were in focus, as was Smith’s relationship with referees.

But it was also his relationships with fellow members of Melbourne’s ‘Big 3’ - Slater and Cooper Cronk - that had captivated the rugby league world.

Smith and Cronk had a much-publicised falling out amid the latter’s move to the Roosters and Smith and his wife’s no-show at Cronk’s wedding.

There were also reports that Barb was in a feud with Slater’s wife Nicole.

“Barb was brought into it, again, when stories went around about a spat between her and Billy’s wife, Nic, which never happened,” Smith writes. “They’re good friends to this day.

“We were stunned. ‘Where is this s**t coming from?’ we asked ourselves.

“What was clear was that the stories were being fabricated to fit a narrative: Cameron Smith does not get on with his teammates, and vice versa.

“It couldn’t have been any further from the truth, but the more it was written and talked about, the more people seemed to believe it.”

Moment that ‘crossed the line’ with Smith’s wife

In July of that year, Barb was at their Melbourne home while Smith was in New Zealand for a game against the Warriors when she was approached by a reporter in the driveway.

Smith writes that the journalist wanted to ask about her “husband’s relationship with his teammates”.

“Barb told him to p**s off – but even so, the episode rocked her,” Smith writes.

“Barb was shocked. Why was a reporter approaching her for comment about anything, especially on our property? How did he even know where we lived?

“If I’d been there, I would’ve given that bloke a mouthful. He had invaded her privacy – her personal space – and in that space were our three children, all of whom felt upset after seeing their mum get rattled.

“Things were beginning to get out of hand. Barb and I live a simple life. We’re down-to-earth people doing the best we can. It just so happens that my job has a high profile.

“Away from footy, we just enjoy hanging out at home and being as far from the public eye as possible. This had crossed the line.”

In the controversial book, Smith also reveals his wife’s private pain when false rumours started to swirl about an affair he never had with TV presenter Yvonne Sampson.

Smith and Sampson have both categorically denied the rumours in recent days.

Smith also reveals how Barb was “devastated” at backlash she received when then NRL CEO Todd Greenberg had gifted her an expensive ring before his 400th game.

“I felt terrible for Barb. She hadn’t signed up for this,” Smith writes.

“We’d been dating before I even started playing NRL, when there was every chance I wouldn’t make it to the top grade.

“She has never used the game or the media to gain any benefit for herself.

“For her it was never about the red carpets or the publicity. She was just there to support me.”

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