Ben Smith (rugby league)

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Ben Smith

Personal information
Full name	Benjamin William Smith
Date of birth	October 16, 1984 (1984-10-16) (age 23)
Place of birth	Quirindi, New South Wales, Australia
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.92 m)
Weight	16 st 0 lb (102 kg)
Club information
Position(s)	Centre
Current club	Parramatta
Number	3
Youth clubs
Years	Club
	Werris Creek Magpies Gunnedah Bulldogs
Senior clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (points)
2004 -	Parramatta Eels	49 (92)
* Professional club appearances and points counted for domestic first grade only.

Benjamin William Smith (born October 16, 1984) is an Australian rugby league player for the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League. The man from Werris Creek first establish himself in the NRL in 2005, when he had a boom rookie season alongside club namesake, Tim Smith. The monster centre of 102 kg, easily big enough to play in the forwards, damaged opposition teams out wide with his size and strength, scoring 14 tries in an outstanding rookie year. The 2006 season loomed as a learning curve season for Smith as after initially showing all the promise he had from the previous season, he sustained a serious leg injury against the North Queensland Cowboys in round 4, and was sidelined for half the NRL season. He only managed 14 games for three tries, however, it provided the platform for him to return to his best in 2007.

After easing back into first grade, Smith is again starting to hit his straps with his bone-rattling defence continuing to shine in the Parramatta backline. Opportunities so far in attack have been few and far between (despite scoring a double against the Canberra Raiders), but if Smith gets one on one with an opponent with space to move, he certainly is able to show the form he produced in his rookie season and return to his best which had his name in representative selectors minds.

v • d • e Parramatta Eels – current squad  Cayless (c) •  Burt •  Cordoba •  Finch •  Galuvao •  Grothe •  Hayne •  Hauraki •  Hindmarsh •  Inu •  K. Keating •  M. Keating •  Lowrie •  Mateo •  Mitchell •  Moimoi •  Oake •  Paulo •  Reddy •  Riddell •  Robinson •  B. Smith •  T. Smith •  Tautai •  Wagon • Coach: Hagan