Jason Smith (rugby league footballer)

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Jason Smith (b. 14 March, 1972, in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian rugby league player, primarily as a five-eighth or lock forward.

Australia 1994-00: 16 Tests – 3t (12pts)
Queensland 1994-00: 16 games – 1t, 1fg (5pts)
Canterbury 1990-95: 62 games - 4t, 1g (18pts)
Parramatta 1996-00: 89 games – 24t, 4fg (100pts)
Hull FC 2001-04
Canberra Raiders 2005-06
North Queensland 2007-

Former Brisbane Souths five-eighth/lock and the younger brother of Darren Smith, Jason signed with the Canterbury Bulldogs as an 18-year-old in 1990. The following year Smith captained the club's President's Cup side to a grand final win over Parramatta but his development during the 1994 season was nothing short of remarkable.

Mobile, yet incredibly strong, he displayed his talent as a ball-player in Canterbury's back row or at five-eighth and impressed as a resolute defender. His 1994 State of Origin debut for Queensland ended when he was concussed after a sickening clash of heads with rival forward Ian Roberts. Smith recovered to play in Canterbury's losing grand final side and was rewarded for his season's efforts with selection in Australia's 28-man Kangaroo squad. His form on tour was excellent and although he was the outstanding player in wins over Warrington and Bradford Northern in the week leading up to Third Test selection, he could not break into Australia's Test team.

1995 proved to be a turning point in Smith’s career. After having originally signed with Super League, Smith and three team-mates (Dean Pay, Jarrod McCracken and Jim Dymock) turned their backs on their club and signed with the ARL. This move consequently ensured Smith a place in Queensland’s State of Origin team and he also went on to play in all three Tests against New Zealand. After gaining a release from his Super League contract via the courts, Smith played in the Bulldogs’ grand final win against Manly before coming off the interchange bench in Australia’s 16-8 win in the World Cup final. Joining Paramatta along with his defecting team-mates, his rep career continued for Queensland and Australia (vs. Papua New Guinea) but his 1997 season was ruined by injury.

At Parramatta, Smith’s commitment never wavered despite a succession of injuries. In three successive preliminary finals (1998-00), the Eels faltered at the last hurdle to make the grand final and too often the young club’s fortunes rested on his shoulders. In 1998, Smith played in the final two Tests of the Trans-Tasman series, alongside his brother Darren, and was chosen as lock in the first international the following year, Australia’s 20-14 win over New Zealand.

In the third State of Origin match in 1999, Smith was cleared of a controversial high tackle on opposing forward Mark Carroll that left the Blues' prop heavily concussed (It was later revealed that Carroll’s own hand, which he raised in a reflex action to protect himself in Smith’s ball and all tackle, had struck him and done much of the damage).

The 1999 season concluded with three Test appearances in Australia’s victorious Tri-series win against New Zealand and Great Britain. Year 2000 saw Smith make his final appearance for Australia, in the 52-0 thrashing of NZ in the ANZAC Test.

Declining to take on the Parramatta captaincy in his final year with the club, his career wound down after injuries and suspension saw him miss much of the second half of the season. Smith left the Eels at the end of the year to play for Hull in the English Super League. 2005 saw him back in Australia playing with Canberra.

2007 sees a move North for Smith to the North Queensland Cowboys.