Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith believes Penrith’s decision to dump Luke Lewis as captain must have played a role in the back-rower deciding to leave the embattled NRL club.
Lewis was granted a release from the final two years of his contract on Monday, meaning his 17-year association with Penrith ends at the conclusion of the 2013 campaign.
The NSW and Australia representative denied being stripped of the captaincy by coach Ivan Cleary in May had anything to do with his decision to ask for a release.
But Queensland Origin skipper Smith wasn’t convinced by Lewis’s denials.
“He’s the heart and soul out there,” Smith told Sky Sports Radio in Sydney.
“Looking from the outside in – I haven’t spoken to Lewey at all about this subject – having the captaincy stripped from you, surely it’s got to have a big part in the decision that he made.”
Smith said a struggling club like the Panthers, who are currently second-last on the NRL ladder with just four wins from 16 matches, are clearly in turmoil and will find it tough to replace Lewis.
“He’s the leader out there. He’s one of their best players every week. He’s an inspirational player, whenever they’re down he always comes up with a big run or a big tackle,” Smith said.
“I’m not too sure what’s going on at the Panthers at the moment but he’s a quality player.”
Lewis has already been linked with several clubs including Cronulla, Wests Tigers, Newcastle, Parramatta, St George Illawarra and South Sydney – who he almost joined in 2008 before reneging on a deal to stay with the Panthers – and Smith said whoever does land the 28-year-old will be better for the acquisition.
“I’ve played alongside Lewey for Australia a number of times and he’s a guy that I love playing alongside,” he said.
“Whoever gets his services next year, they’re going to be a pretty fortunate football team.”