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Darren Smith (rugby league footballer)
Encyclopedia
Darren Smith is an Australian former rugby league
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Australian
national side and also Queensland
in the State of Origin
. His club football career was spent with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Brisbane Broncos
and St. Helens. Smith was renowned as a versatile, long-lived player with an excellent football brain. He is the brother of fellow Maroon and international, Jason Smith.
in 1990. He represented Combined Brisbane against Great Britain
as a 20-year-old in 1988 and made his State of Origin
debut as a reserve for Queensland in the 1992 series.
Conspicuous in headgear after suffering severe concussion in 1991, Smith looked certain to press for Australian selection until off-field politics took its toll in 1994
. His refusal to renew his contract with Canterbury, negotiating with two Brisbane clubs instead, saw him used in the limited role of interchange player. Smith's place in Canterbury's grand final side was taken by youngster Steven Hughes and he made little impact when brought on to the field as a replacement. Smith revealed that he had signed with the South Queensland Crushers
but he then did an about-face and successfully sought a release to play with the Brisbane Broncos in 1995
.
It was unfortunate that Smith hit possibly his best form at a time when the code was in turmoil, and he did not represent again until 1997’s Super League season
. He proved his durability at the highest level, making his Test debut against New Zealand and playing in all five Tests against the kiwis and Great Britain as well as making three appearances in Queensland’s Tri-Series side.
When the game reunified for the 1998 NRL season, Smith returned to the Queensland State of Origin team and was the National Rugby League
's top try-scorer for the season, crossing for the final try in Brisbane's 38–12 thrashing of his former club Canterbury in the 1998 NRL grand final
. In an ironic twist to his career, Smith announced that he was returning to the Bulldogs in 1999
.
In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.
Smith left the Bulldogs at the end of 2002
(denied the opportunity to finally win a premiership with the club when it was stripped of its competition points) to play with St. Helens. He played against the 2002 NRL premiers, the Sydney Roosters, when they travelled to England to take on St. Helens in the 2003 World Club Challenge
. At the end of his first English season Smith was unexpectedly called into the Third Test of the Ashes series
(despite being 35 years old and outside the NRL) by his former Bulldogs coach, national coach Chris Anderson, who felt the available 2003 Kangaroo
centres were not experienced enough.
Smith returned to Australia in 2004 and made cameo appearances with the Broncos in two matches while playing for his former club, Eastern Suburbs Tigers. At age 36 years and 284 days, he was the NRL's oldest player in 2005. Smith finally retired as a player after Easts was beaten in the grand final. At the time of his retirement Smith held the record for most tries in a season for the Broncos (together with Steve Renouf
) at 23.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Australian
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
national side and also Queensland
Queensland State of Origin Team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
in the State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
. His club football career was spent with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Brisbane Broncos
Brisbane Broncos
The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...
and St. Helens. Smith was renowned as a versatile, long-lived player with an excellent football brain. He is the brother of fellow Maroon and international, Jason Smith.
Playing career
Smith came to Canterbury from Brisbane's Easts TigersEasts Tigers
The Eastern Suburbs Tigers are a rugby league club based at Langlands Park, which is in the suburb of Coorparoo in Brisbane, Australia. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1934 to 1996. From 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is traditionally an all gold jersey...
in 1990. He represented Combined Brisbane against Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
as a 20-year-old in 1988 and made his State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
debut as a reserve for Queensland in the 1992 series.
Conspicuous in headgear after suffering severe concussion in 1991, Smith looked certain to press for Australian selection until off-field politics took its toll in 1994
New South Wales Rugby League season 1994
The 1994 New South Wales Rugby League season was the eighty-seventh season of professional rugby league football in Australia...
. His refusal to renew his contract with Canterbury, negotiating with two Brisbane clubs instead, saw him used in the limited role of interchange player. Smith's place in Canterbury's grand final side was taken by youngster Steven Hughes and he made little impact when brought on to the field as a replacement. Smith revealed that he had signed with the South Queensland Crushers
South Queensland Crushers
The South Queensland Crushers were an Australian rugby league football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. In 1992 it was decided that the team would be admitted into the New South Wales Rugby League competition, along with three other teams, as part of the League's expansion plans for professional...
but he then did an about-face and successfully sought a release to play with the Brisbane Broncos in 1995
Brisbane Broncos 1995
The 1995 Brisbane Broncos season was the eighth in the club's history. They competed in the Australian Rugby League's 1995 Winfield Cup premiership, finishing in the regular season 3rd and making it to the semi-finals before being knocked out by eventual premiers, the Canterbury-Bankstown...
.
It was unfortunate that Smith hit possibly his best form at a time when the code was in turmoil, and he did not represent again until 1997’s Super League season
Super League (Australia) season 1997
The 1997 Super League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the first and only to be run by the News Limited-controlled Super League organisation...
. He proved his durability at the highest level, making his Test debut against New Zealand and playing in all five Tests against the kiwis and Great Britain as well as making three appearances in Queensland’s Tri-Series side.
When the game reunified for the 1998 NRL season, Smith returned to the Queensland State of Origin team and was the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
's top try-scorer for the season, crossing for the final try in Brisbane's 38–12 thrashing of his former club Canterbury in the 1998 NRL grand final
1998 NRL grand final
The 1998 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1998 NRL season. It was the first grand final since the National Rugby League's formation and featured minor premiers and the previous year's Super League premiers, the Brisbane Broncos against the Canterbury Bulldogs,...
. In an ironic twist to his career, Smith announced that he was returning to the Bulldogs in 1999
National Rugby League season 1999
The 1999 NRL season was the 92nd season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and the second to be run by the National Rugby League. Seventeen teams competed for the NRL Premiership during the season which culminated in a grand final between the first grand final played at Stadium...
.
In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for his contribution to Australia's international standing in rugby league.
Smith left the Bulldogs at the end of 2002
National Rugby League season 2002
The 2002 NRL season was the 95th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fifth to be run by the National Rugby League...
(denied the opportunity to finally win a premiership with the club when it was stripped of its competition points) to play with St. Helens. He played against the 2002 NRL premiers, the Sydney Roosters, when they travelled to England to take on St. Helens in the 2003 World Club Challenge
2003 World Club Challenge
The 2003 World Club Challenge match was contested on Sunday, 16 February by National Rugby League season 2002 premiers, the Sydney Roosters and Super League VII premiers, St Helens...
. At the end of his first English season Smith was unexpectedly called into the Third Test of the Ashes series
Rugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
(despite being 35 years old and outside the NRL) by his former Bulldogs coach, national coach Chris Anderson, who felt the available 2003 Kangaroo
2003 Kangaroo Tour
The 2003 Kangaroo Tour was a six-match tour by the Australia national rugby league team of France, Wales and England. The last three matches were all Tests against Great Britain...
centres were not experienced enough.
Smith returned to Australia in 2004 and made cameo appearances with the Broncos in two matches while playing for his former club, Eastern Suburbs Tigers. At age 36 years and 284 days, he was the NRL's oldest player in 2005. Smith finally retired as a player after Easts was beaten in the grand final. At the time of his retirement Smith held the record for most tries in a season for the Broncos (together with Steve Renouf
Steve Renouf
Stephen Renouf is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. Of Aboriginal and European descent, he was known as one of the sport's greatest centres. Renouf set numerous records for the Brisbane Broncos club and is considered one of the greatest...
) at 23.