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Brian Smith (rugby league)
Encyclopedia
Brian Smith is an Australia
n coach and former player of rugby league football. He is the current head coach at the Sydney Roosters
of the NRL. Smith played for St. George
and South Sydney Rabbitohs
(1975–1979), appearing in a total of 31 first grade games. However, Smith is best known as a coach, having been at the helm of Illawarra Steelers
, where he took over for the 1984 season, before moving to Hull, St. George Dragons
, Bradford Bulls
, Parramatta Eels
and, most recently, at the Newcastle Knights
. He is the older brother of former England national team coach, Tony Smith and is father of Rohan Smith
the coach of Tonga
.
in 1974, and 17 games for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
between 1975 and 1979), appearing in a total of 31 first grade games.
under-23's team. He then joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs
in 1980, also as under-23's coach. He stayed there until the end of 1981.
Smith began coaching first grade rugby league in the NSWRL competition in 1984, where he became coach of the Illawarra Steelers
, where he remained until the end of 1987 season. While coaching Illawarra in 1986, Smith proposed using two referees. This did eventuate in 2009.
From 1988 until 1990, Smith was coach of Hull in England's Rugby Football League Championship. He returned to Australia to coach the St George Dragons for the 1991 season. He took the club to consecutive Grand Finals in 1992 (in which his younger brother Tony played from the Dragons' interchange bench) and 1993, losing both to Wayne Bennett's Brisbane team. He remained at St George until 1995.
Smith returned to England for one year (in 1996) to coach the Bradford
club, before returning to Australia where he has stayed since. From 1997 until mid 2006, Smith coached the Parramatta Eels
, becoming the longest serving coach for the club. He joined the Newcastle Knights
In 2007, and left mid 2009. He is signed to coach for the Sydney Roosters
in 2010.
He resigned as coach of the Parramatta Eels on 15 May 2006, with assistant coach Jason Taylor
taking over as caretaker coach for the remainder of the season.
Smith had a short spell with the Bradford Bulls
in an advisory role during the summer of 2006.
In 2007, Smith took up coaching duties with the Newcastle Knights
. In July 2009, he signed a deal for the 2010 with the Sydney Roosters
and obtained a release from the Newcastle Knights
. On 15 August 2009 Smith effectively quit the Knights, with understudy Rick Stone
to act as caretaker coach for the remainder of the season.
Smith coached the Roosters to the 2010 NRL grand final
, but his side was defeated 32-8 by Wayne Bennett's St. George Illawarra Dragons. For the same year, made Dally M 'Coach of the Year', despite having never won a Premiership.
He is the older brother of former Great Britain
and Warrington
coach Tony Smith
. In 2010 he worked as an assistant coach for Steve McNamara
for the English team
in their 2010 Four Nations campaign.
1984 Did not make finals
1985 Did not make finals
1986 Did not make finals
1987 Did not make finals
Coach of St George
1991 Did not make finals
1992 Major Preliminary Semi 06-Sep-1992 Lost
Minor Semi 2-Sep-1992 Won
Preliminary Final 20-Sep-1992 Won
Grand Final 27-Sep-1992 Lost
1993 Major Preliminary Semi 04-Sep-1993 Won
Major Semi 12-Sep-1993 Won
Grand Final 26-Sep-1993 Lost
1994 Did not make finals
1995 Quarter Final 02-Sep-1995 Lost
Coach of Parramatta
1997 Minor Qualifying Final 07-Sep-1997 Lost
Major Qualifying Final 13-Sep-1997 Lost
1998 Major Preliminary Semi 29-Aug-1998 Won
Major Semi 06-Sep-1998 Won
Final 20-Sep-1998 Lost (after leading 18-0)
1999 Qualifying Final 04-Sep-1999 Won
Preliminary Final 18-Sep-1999 Lost
2000 Qualifying Final 05-Aug-2000 Won
Semi Final 12-Aug-2000 Won
Preliminary Final 20-Aug-2000 Lost
2001 Qualifying Final 09-Sep-2001 Won
Preliminary Final 23-Sep-2001 Won
Grand Final 30-Sep-2001 Lost
2002 Qualifying Final 14-Sep-2002 Lost
2003 Did not make finals
2004 Did not make finals
2005 Qualifying Final 11-Sep-2005 Won
Preliminary Final 25-Sep-2005 Lost
2006 Parramatta resigned mid season.
Coach of Newcastle
2007 Began coaching Newcastle. Did not make finals
2008. Did not make finals
2009 left Newcastle mid season.
Coach of Sydney Roosters
2010 Qualifying final 11 September 2010 Won
2010 Elimination semi final 18 September 2010 Won
2010 Preliminary Final 24-Sep-2010 Won.
2010 Grand Final 3 October 2010- Lost 32-8
Grand Finals: Hull 1988-89 (lost to Widnes), St George 1992 (lost to Brisbane
), St George 1993 (lost to Brisbane), Parramatta 2001 (lost to Newcastle), Sydney Roosters 2010 (Lost to St George). Winning Percentage 0%
Of the 7 Australian clubs coached by Brian Smith in any grade, only Illawarra and St George (combined) in 2010, and then coached by Wayne Bennett and defeating a Brian Smith Coached Roosters, have won a premiership during or after Brian Smith's coaching appointments. No other club has ever won a first grade Australian NSWRL/ARL/NRL premiership during or after Brian Smith has coached the said Club in any grade.
Representative teams coached:
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n coach and former player of rugby league football. He is the current head coach at the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
of the NRL. Smith played for St. George
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
and South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
(1975–1979), appearing in a total of 31 first grade games. However, Smith is best known as a coach, having been at the helm of Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
, where he took over for the 1984 season, before moving to Hull, St. George Dragons
St. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
, Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
, Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
and, most recently, at the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. He is the older brother of former England national team coach, Tony Smith and is father of Rohan Smith
Rohan Smith (rugby league)
Rohan Smith , is an Australian rugby league coach. He is the head coach of Tonga. He is assistant coach to his father Brian Smith at the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League....
the coach of Tonga
Tonga national rugby league team
The Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side, representing Tonga in rugby league football. Rugby league is a popular sport in Tonga, and the national team has become one of the best performed nations in the world...
.
Playing career
In the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership, Smith played 14 first grade games for St. GeorgeSt. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
in 1974, and 17 games for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
between 1975 and 1979), appearing in a total of 31 first grade games.
Coaching career
Smith began coaching in 1978, coaching the Newtown JetsNewtown Jets
The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSWRL Premier League competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season...
under-23's team. He then joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
in 1980, also as under-23's coach. He stayed there until the end of 1981.
Smith began coaching first grade rugby league in the NSWRL competition in 1984, where he became coach of the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
, where he remained until the end of 1987 season. While coaching Illawarra in 1986, Smith proposed using two referees. This did eventuate in 2009.
From 1988 until 1990, Smith was coach of Hull in England's Rugby Football League Championship. He returned to Australia to coach the St George Dragons for the 1991 season. He took the club to consecutive Grand Finals in 1992 (in which his younger brother Tony played from the Dragons' interchange bench) and 1993, losing both to Wayne Bennett's Brisbane team. He remained at St George until 1995.
Smith returned to England for one year (in 1996) to coach the Bradford
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
club, before returning to Australia where he has stayed since. From 1997 until mid 2006, Smith coached the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
, becoming the longest serving coach for the club. He joined the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
In 2007, and left mid 2009. He is signed to coach for the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
in 2010.
He resigned as coach of the Parramatta Eels on 15 May 2006, with assistant coach Jason Taylor
Jason Taylor (rugby league footballer)
Jason Taylor is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player, currently working at the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. He formerly coached the Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs clubs...
taking over as caretaker coach for the remainder of the season.
Smith had a short spell with the Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
in an advisory role during the summer of 2006.
In 2007, Smith took up coaching duties with the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. In July 2009, he signed a deal for the 2010 with the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
and obtained a release from the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. On 15 August 2009 Smith effectively quit the Knights, with understudy Rick Stone
Rick Stone
Rick Stone is a professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach to Wayne Bennett at the Newcastle Knights of the National Rugby League....
to act as caretaker coach for the remainder of the season.
Smith coached the Roosters to the 2010 NRL grand final
2010 NRL Grand Final
The 2010 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2010 NRL season. Played on Sunday, 3 October at Sydney's ANZ Stadium, the match was contested by the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. It was the first time the two sides met in a grand final. They...
, but his side was defeated 32-8 by Wayne Bennett's St. George Illawarra Dragons. For the same year, made Dally M 'Coach of the Year', despite having never won a Premiership.
He is the older brother of former 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"....
and Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
coach Tony Smith
Tony Smith (Australian rugby league coach)
Tony Smith is a British-Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently Head of Coaching at English Super League club, Warrington Wolves...
. In 2010 he worked as an assistant coach for Steve McNamara
Steve McNamara
Steve McNamara is an English professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently coach of the England national team.-International honours:...
for the English team
England national rugby league team
The England national rugby league team represent England in international rugby league football tournaments. The team has now seen a revival, having largely formed from the Great Britain team, who also represented Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football...
in their 2010 Four Nations campaign.
Finals coaching record in Australian Rugby League & National Rugby League
Coach of Illawarra SteelersIllawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
1984 Did not make finals
1985 Did not make finals
1986 Did not make finals
1987 Did not make finals
Coach of St George
1991 Did not make finals
1992 Major Preliminary Semi 06-Sep-1992 Lost
Minor Semi 2-Sep-1992 Won
Preliminary Final 20-Sep-1992 Won
Grand Final 27-Sep-1992 Lost
1993 Major Preliminary Semi 04-Sep-1993 Won
Major Semi 12-Sep-1993 Won
Grand Final 26-Sep-1993 Lost
1994 Did not make finals
1995 Quarter Final 02-Sep-1995 Lost
Coach of Parramatta
1997 Minor Qualifying Final 07-Sep-1997 Lost
Major Qualifying Final 13-Sep-1997 Lost
1998 Major Preliminary Semi 29-Aug-1998 Won
Major Semi 06-Sep-1998 Won
Final 20-Sep-1998 Lost (after leading 18-0)
1999 Qualifying Final 04-Sep-1999 Won
Preliminary Final 18-Sep-1999 Lost
2000 Qualifying Final 05-Aug-2000 Won
Semi Final 12-Aug-2000 Won
Preliminary Final 20-Aug-2000 Lost
2001 Qualifying Final 09-Sep-2001 Won
Preliminary Final 23-Sep-2001 Won
Grand Final 30-Sep-2001 Lost
2002 Qualifying Final 14-Sep-2002 Lost
2003 Did not make finals
2004 Did not make finals
2005 Qualifying Final 11-Sep-2005 Won
Preliminary Final 25-Sep-2005 Lost
2006 Parramatta resigned mid season.
Coach of Newcastle
2007 Began coaching Newcastle. Did not make finals
2008. Did not make finals
2009 left Newcastle mid season.
Coach of Sydney Roosters
2010 Qualifying final 11 September 2010 Won
2010 Elimination semi final 18 September 2010 Won
2010 Preliminary Final 24-Sep-2010 Won.
2010 Grand Final 3 October 2010- Lost 32-8
Grand Finals: Hull 1988-89 (lost to Widnes), St George 1992 (lost to Brisbane
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...
), St George 1993 (lost to Brisbane), Parramatta 2001 (lost to Newcastle), Sydney Roosters 2010 (Lost to St George). Winning Percentage 0%
Of the 7 Australian clubs coached by Brian Smith in any grade, only Illawarra and St George (combined) in 2010, and then coached by Wayne Bennett and defeating a Brian Smith Coached Roosters, have won a premiership during or after Brian Smith's coaching appointments. No other club has ever won a first grade Australian NSWRL/ARL/NRL premiership during or after Brian Smith has coached the said Club in any grade.
Representative teams coached:
- CountryCity vs Country OriginCity vs Country is an annual Australian rugby league football match that takes place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represents the Sydney metropolitan area...
— 2001-03