Billy Smith
Halfback, Centre
Player Bio
- Inducted:
- 2008
- Date of Birth:
- 12 July 1942
- Birthplace:
- Fremantle, WA
- Nickname:
- -
- Debut Team:
- St George Dragons
- Date:
- 16 July 1961
- Opposition:
- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
- Venue:
- Sydney Sports Ground, NSW
- Representative:
- City, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Club:
- St George Dragons
Career
Milestones
- Premierships: 1963-66
- Kangaroo Tour: 1967-68
- NSWRL Player of the Year: 1967
- Sun-Herald Best and Fairest: 1966
- Harry Sunderland Medal: 1966-67
- Australian captain: 1 Test
- Rated No. 46 in Rugby League Week’s Top 100 players: 1992
- Named in NRL Team of the 1960s: 2006
Playing
- First Class Games
- 359
- Points
- 256
- Tries
- 55
Biography
Billy Smith is remembered as one of the great halfbacks, but his initial impact in the St George team of the 1960s was as a centre, partnering the great Reg Gasnier in grand final victories in 1963, 1964 and 1965.
Sandwiched between those premiership victories, in 1964 Smith was named as the NSW halfback for the games against Queensland and then as Australia's half for three Tests against France.
This was the beginning of a stellar international career, perhaps the highlight being his feat of winning the Harry Sunderland medal as the best Australian player in a home Test series in 1966 against Great Britain and the following year against New Zealand.
Smith played in five of the six Tests on the 1967–68 Kangaroo tour and was a key member of the Australian team that won the World Cup in 1968 and 1970.
He captained his country against Great Britain during the 1970 Cup.
Ian Walsh called him ''one of the gutsiest halfbacks I ever played with'', while another St George hooker, Steve Edge, always ''marvelled at just how tough he was''.
On the club scene, Smith was one of the great players of his era, racking up an incredible 296 games with the Saints, 234 of them in first-grade.
''Billy gave it 110 per cent,'' said Norm Provan. ''He was the best halfback that I've ever seen go around.''
“Billy was a little bloke with a big heart. He never knew how to give in.”
Glyn Price Long-serving St George official
67. Billy Smith - Hall of Fame
Career Stats
Club Career
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St George Dragons | Premiership |
1961
1963 |
1961
1977 |
234 | 30 | 3 | 44 | 161 |
| St George Dragons | Touring Sides | 1963 | 1963 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| St George Dragons | Ampol Cup | 1963 | 1963 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| St George Dragons | Official Pre-Season | 1964 | 1977 | 48 | 9 | - | 4 | 31 |
| St George Dragons | State Cup | 1964 | 1965 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| St George Dragons | Amco Cup | 1975 | 1976 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
Representative Career
City - Country
| Team Name | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Seconds | Country Seconds |
1964
1969
1973 |
1964
1969
1973 |
3 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| City Firsts | Country Firsts |
1965
1968
1970
1973 |
1966
1968
1970
1973 |
5 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| Sydney | Touring Teams | 1964 | 1964 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
State
| Team Name | Competition | Opponent | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Interstate Series | Queensland |
1964
1971
1973 |
1969
1971
1973 |
15 | 1 | 1 | - | 5 |
| New South Wales | Touring Sides |
1966
1970 |
1966
1970 |
2 | - | 1 | - | 2 | |
| New South Wales | Tour Matches | 1965 | 1965 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
International
| Team Name | Competition | Year Start | Year End | Played | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Tests and World Cup |
1964
1970 |
1968
1970 |
26 | 3 | 3 | - | 15 |
| Australia | Internationals | 1970 | 1970 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Australia | Tour Matches |
1965
1967
1970 |
1965
1968
1970 |
17 | 8 | 3 | - | 30 |
Hall of Fame Members
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