David Beckham and Cameron Smith. Source: DailyTelegraph
IT'S not often Cameron Smith gets starstruck - but what a week it's been for the Kangaroos captain, who has been collecting autographs on his World Cup trip around the United Kingdom.
Earlier in the week Smith was summoned to Clarence House for a meeting with Prince Charles - and overnight the usually unflappable Melbourne Storm skipper had to back up at the home of Manchester United for a catch-up with the "other" Prince of England, David Beckham.
Throw in some of the biggest names in world football in Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick, and Smith along with fellow Kangaroos Paul Gallen and Johnathan Thurston had a day out at Old Trafford they will probably never forget.
"It was certainly an eye-opener," Smith said.
"It was great. I was here with Jonno and Gal so it was great. It was a good experience.
"You know, these guys are the guys that you watch on TV all the time and Manchester United is arguably the most popular sporting team in the entire world so it was a great thrill."
Giggs, Ferdinand and Carrick swapped jumpers with the Kangaroos after Manchester United travelled to Australia earlier this year when they got to see the Kangaroo stars playing their own game during a State of Origin.
Giggs is a big supporter of rugby league given his father played the game, but he admits if there is a team in the NRL he has a soft spot for it is Smith's Melbourne Storm. And the Kangaroos weren't the only team star-gazing yesterday.
"I am a real rugby league fan so I watch all the teams and it is great to see these guys over for the World Cup," Giggs said.
On his Origin experience, Giggs added: "I have watched a lot of rugby league games in my life but this was the quickest, the toughest, the skills were unbelievable. It was just a different level.
"We were in Sydney all that week and it was like what we'd call a Champions League final. It was great."
Australia takes on Fiji at Langtree Park on Saturday night but Smith said taking time out of their preparations for this once in a lifetime opportunity was well worth it.
"It is nice to see that guys who play in such a huge sporting club know a fair bit about our game as well," Smith said.
"Sometimes you can go a little bit stir crazy in the same room for seven weeks but the opportunity was too hard to pass up.
"I don't think too many people would get the chance to do what we've done. We've seen the guys training and got a tour of their locker room and where they eat meals and where they do all their recovery stuff as well.
"It was a great morning. Highlight of the trip."
01 Nov, 2013
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/cameron-smith-and-kangaroos-meet-david-beckham-and-manchester-united-superstars/story-e6frfkp9-1226751212778?from=public_rss
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