Jason Smith (rugby league)
Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Jason Smith |
Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)[1] |
Weight | 92 kg (14 st 6 lb)[1] |
Position | Utility |
Jason Smith (born 14 March 1972 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. He plays primarily as a five-eighth or lock forward.
History
Former Brisbane Souths five-eighth/lock and the younger brother of Darren Smith, Jason signed with the Canterbury Bulldogs as an 18-year-old in 1990. The following year Smith captained the club's President's Cup side to a grand final win over Parramatta but his development during the 1994 season was nothing short of remarkable.
Mobile, yet incredibly strong, he displayed his talent as a ball-player in Canterbury's back row or at five-eighth and impressed as a resolute defender. His 1994 State of Origin debut for Queensland ended when he was concussed after a sickening clash of heads with rival forward Ian Roberts. Smith recovered to play in Canterbury's losing grand final side and was rewarded for his season's efforts with selection in Australia's 28-man Kangaroo squad. His form on tour was excellent and although he was the outstanding player in wins over Warrington and Bradford Northern in the week leading up to Third Test selection, he could not break into Australia's Test team.
1995 proved to be a turning point in Smith’s career. After having originally signed with Super League, Smith and three team-mates (Dean Pay, Jarrod McCracken and Jim Dymock) turned their backs on their club and signed with the ARL. This move consequently ensured Smith a place in Queensland’s State of Origin team and he also went on to play in all three Tests against New Zealand. After gaining a release from his Super League contract via the courts, Smith played in the Bulldogs’ grand final win against Manly before coming off the interchange bench in Australia’s 16-8 win in the World Cup final. Joining Paramatta along with his defecting team-mates, his rep career continued for Queensland and Australia (vs. Papua New Guinea) but his 1997 season was ruined by injury.
At Parramatta, Smith’s commitment never wavered despite a succession of injuries. In three successive preliminary finals (1998-00), the Eels faltered at the last hurdle to make the grand final and too often the young club’s fortunes rested on his shoulders. In 1998, Smith played in the final two Tests of the Trans-Tasman series, alongside his brother Darren, and was chosen as lock in the first international the following year, Australia’s 20-14 win over New Zealand.
In the third State of Origin match in 1999, Smith was cleared of a controversial high tackle on opposing forward Mark Carroll that left the Blues' prop heavily concussed (It was later revealed that Carroll’s own hand, which he raised in a reflex action to protect himself in Smith’s ball and all tackle, had struck him and done much of the damage).
The 1999 season concluded with three Test appearances in Australia’s victorious Tri-series win against New Zealand and Great Britain. Year 2000 saw Smith make his final appearance for Australia, in the 52-0 thrashing of NZ in the ANZAC Test. That year he was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.
Declining to take on the Parramatta captaincy in his final year with the club, his career wound down after injuries and suspension saw him miss much of the second half of the season. Smith left the Eels at the end of the year to play for Hull FC in the English Super League, captaining the side from 2002 to 2004. 2005 saw him back in Australia playing with Canberra.
2007 saw a move North for Smith to the North Queensland Cowboys, becoming the oldest player to compete in National Rugby League season 2007 and has announced that he will retire at the end of this season.
Brisbane newspaper The Courier Mail confirmed on August 31, 2007 that Smith will take up the position of assistant coach of the Souths Logan Magpies in the 2008 Queensland Cup. This will put him in direct opposition with brother Darren, who will be head coach of rival side, Easts Tigers.
Statistics
Club Football
Canterbury Bulldogs
1990 - 1995
Matches | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
63 | 4 | 1 | - | 18 |
Parramatta Eels
1996 - 2000
Matches | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
89 | 24 | - | 4 | 100 |
Canberra Raiders
2004 - 2006
Matches | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
38 | 9 | - | 1 | 37 |
North Queensland Cowboys
2007
Matches | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
19 | 2 | - | - | 8 |
Career Stats
1990 - Present
Matches | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
209 | 39 | 1 | 5 | 163 |
English Super League
Hull FC
2001 - 2004
Matches | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Representative Football
Queensland
1994 - 2000
Matches | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
16 | 1 | - | 1 | 5 |
Australia
1995 - 2000
Matches | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
16 | ? | ? | ? | 12 |
Trivia
- He is the brother of Darren Smith
- Smith is also one of the only known professional rugby league players who is a smoker.
References
- ^ a b c d "Player profile of Jason Smith". National Rugby League. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ a b "Player profile of Jason Smith". North Queensland Cowboys. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ a b c "Player profile of Jason Smith". Canterbury Bulldogs. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ a b c d Jeffs, Paul. "Jason Smith's NSWRL/ARL/NRL first grade points listing". stats.rleague.com. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ a b Jeffs, Paul. "Queensland's State of Origin caps and points listing". stats.rleague.com. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- 1972 births
- Living people
- People from Brisbane
- Australian rugby league players
- Canterbury Bulldogs players
- Parramatta Eels rugby league players
- Canberra Raiders rugby league players
- North Queensland Cowboys rugby league players
- Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players
- Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal