Smith's emotional Hall of Fame tribute to late mother

Newly inducted rugby league Hall of Famer Cameron Smith has become emotional talking about the recent passing of his mother, on the eve of him receiving his jacket. Smith joined Melbourne Storm teammates Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater in the prestigious club, but turned back the clock to thank his first supporter, his mother. It was a big honour for the 430-gamer, who collected three premierships during his decorated career with the Storm. "I think she'd be pretty chuffed at this," Smith said, holding back tears on Wednesday night. "Every person that comes up on stage tonight to receive their jacket tonight, they don't get there alone. They get there through the help of many people. "The teammates they play with, the coaches, administration ... but most importantly, their family. "Mum was a big part of my life, a big part of my football career. She loved the game of rugby league." Smith detailed just how much work his mother put in to kick start his career, becoming a life member of his junior club. "She was heavily involved in my junior football in particular. She's a life member of my junior football club, Logan Brothers. She did a tremendous amount of work there for 20-odd years," he said. Smith becomes the 120th member of the Hall of Fame. Meantime, his former Storm teammate, Billy Slater, who was also inducted on the night, highlighted how important his family was in helping his career flourish. Slater also played in two of those Storm premierships, while also the Clive Churchill Medal twice and the Dally M Medal. "Everyone does have their journey. I grew up in a rugby league area and a rugby league family. I don't remember choosing this game ... this game chose me," Slater said.

How a $20 bet led to iconic Inglis celebration

Newly inducted rugby league Hall of Famer Greg Inglis has revealed the origins of his trademark goanna try celebration. The celebration was written into folklore when Inglis scored the final try in South Sydney's drought breaking 2014 grand final win over the Bulldogs, but it was conjured some two years earlier in a phone call with his cousin. "He goes, 'alright, go and bring out something out'. I ask 'what would you like'?" Inglis began. "He said 'I want you to do a front flip'. I said no, I cant do a front flip, I'll land on my face. Plus those two have already been done anyway with Anthony Mundine and Nathan Blacklock. "So I said 'I need to bring out the goanna', and that's how I started it." In retirement, he founded the Goanna Foundation, working to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health Indigenous and other at-risk groups. "It's a $20 bet that's still going on," Inglis said. Inglis played 263 NRL games, including 117 for the Storm and 146 for the Rabbitohs. He scored an incredible 149 tries. He's the 125th inductee into the rugby league Hall of Fame. Inglis was asked by MC Yvonne Sampson if he could've imagined himself as a Hall of Famer when he made his NRL debut for the Storm against the Eels in round six in 2005 as an 18-year-old with frosted tips. "Maybe – because the first couple of words Craig (Bellamy) ever said to me was to get out of his face and work harder," he said to a laugh from the crowd. "So that always stuck in the back of my mind ... work ethic and keep pushing. "I cant help but laugh at some of that vision. What was I doing with those frosted tips?" Inglis also revealed the timing of the phone call from NRL football boss Graham Annesley informing him of his induction couldn't have come at a more emotional time. "When I got this phone call, it just brought back all these memories. There was one lady that was very special to me, and that was my grandmother," Inglis said. "She passed away on that Wednesday, (and I got) the phone call on the Friday. It was a pretty emotional few weeks. "I tried to help hold the tears back when Graham called me. She was one lady I always thought." Inglis said he was also in the car with his parents when the call came.