Craig Smith (rugby league, born 1973)

Craig Smith (born 26 February 1973) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s.[1]

For the New Zealand rugby league international, see Craig Smith (rugby league, born 1971).

Craig Smith
Personal information
Born (1973-02-26) 26 February 1973
Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Height184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight96 kg (15 st 2 lb)
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1995 North Sydney Bears 2 1 0 0 4
1998–99 Melbourne Storm 20 3 61 0 134
Total 22 4 61 0 138

Biography

The Melbourne Storm leading point-scorer in the club's debut year (110 points) had to sit on the sidelines for much of 1999 due to the good form of Matt Geyer. Smith trained in Melbourne but flew back to Brisbane on weekends to play with the Storms’ feeder club, Brisbane Norths, in the Queensland Cup competition.

Smith was re-instated on the wing before the 1999 semi-final series when coach Chris Anderson dropped his son Ben and moved Geyer to five-eighth. Anderson also made Smith the primary goal-kicker. Smith's boot proved the difference in three sudden-death victories, culminating in his three goals and penalty try from the wing in the 1999 NRL grand final.

Smith rejected Melbourne's offer for the 2000 NRL season and retired. He now lives in Perth working in property maintenance. In 2017, Smith spoke about his time in rugby league saying "We were walking around in Melbourne and were three times the size of everyone else, that is how they knew who the rugby league players were back then, nobody knew anything about the sport. At our first game they were cheering and I don’t think they knew what they were cheering about".[2]

Statistics

NRL
Statistics are correct to the end of career [3]
† Denotes seasons in which Smith won an NRL Premiership
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts W L D W-L %
1998 Melbourne 1725171.80110115167.6
1999† Melbourne 311083.3024300100
Career totals 20 3 61 73.5 0 134 14 5 1 72.50

References
  1. Whiticker, Alan; Hudson, Glen (2007). The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. Wetherill Park, New South Wales: Gary Allen Pty Ltd. p. 609. ISBN 978-1-877082-93-1.
  2. https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/2017/05/18/where-are-they-now-craig-smith/
  3. Craig Smith's player profile at Rugby League Tables Archived 1 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine


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