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Craig Smith (rugby league born 1971)
Encyclopedia
Craig Smith is a former professional rugby league
footballer. He formerly played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs
, Illawarra Steelers
, St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Newcastle Knights
as well as representing New Zealand
and Queensland. Smith primarily played at prop.
player in Northland, Smith moved to Queensland
for college and took up rugby league.
Following a series of suspensions in 2001 for contrary conduct and striking, Smith left the NRL
and Australia in 2002 to play for European Super League
club, Wigan Warriors
.
In 2005, Smith agreed to a one-year deal and a return to the NRL with the Newcastle Knights
. Although retiring at the end of the 2005 season, Smith was re-signed by Newcastle for the 2006 season. A broken jaw in August 2006 sidelined him for several rounds but he was fit to return for Newcastle's finals appearances. Smith played his last NRL game in Newcastle's semi-finals defeat by the Brisbane Broncos
.
of the 1997 State of Origin
series and on the bench for game III.
Smith played for the New Zealand Kiwis twelve times between 1998 and 2001.
Smith was again coaxed out of retirement to take part in the New Zealand Māori
team that met the Indigenous Dreamtime
team in a commemorative match at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
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. He formerly played 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...
, 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...
, St. George Illawarra Dragons and 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...
as well as representing New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
and Queensland. Smith primarily played at prop.
Playing career
Originally a rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player in Northland, Smith moved to Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
for college and took up rugby league.
Following a series of suspensions in 2001 for contrary conduct and striking, Smith left the NRL
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...
and Australia in 2002 to play for European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
club, Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
.
In 2005, Smith agreed to a one-year deal and a return to the NRL 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...
. Although retiring at the end of the 2005 season, Smith was re-signed by Newcastle for the 2006 season. A broken jaw in August 2006 sidelined him for several rounds but he was fit to return for Newcastle's finals appearances. Smith played his last NRL game in Newcastle's semi-finals defeat by the 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...
.
Representative career
Smith was selected to represent Queensland as a prop for games I and IIof the 1997 State of Origin
1997 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 1997 Rugby league State of Origin series was the 16th year that the annual best-of-three series of interstate rugby league football matches contested between the Queensland and New South Wales representative teams was played under 'State of Origin' selection rules...
series and on the bench for game III.
Smith played for the New Zealand Kiwis twelve times between 1998 and 2001.
Smith was again coaxed out of retirement to take part in the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
team that met the Indigenous Dreamtime
Australian Aboriginal rugby league team
The Australia Aboriginal rugby league team is a rugby league football team that represents Australian Aborigines...
team in a commemorative match at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.