Darren Smith

Versatile player, a potent attacking force at centre or in the second row, came to C’bury from Brisbane Easts in 1990. Smith represented Combined Brisbane against Great Britain as a 20-year-old in 1988 and made his State of Origin debut as a reserve for Queensland in the 1992 series. Conspicuous playing in headgear after suffering severe concussion in 1991, Smith looked certain to press for Australian selection until off-field politics took its toll in 1994. His refusal to renew his contract with C’bury, negotiating with two Brisbane clubs instead, saw him used in the limited role of interchange player. Smith's place in C’bury’s grand final side was taken by youngster Steven Hughes and Smith made little impact when he came on to the field as a replacement. Smith revealed that he had signed with the South Queensland Crushers but he then did an about-face and successfully sought a release from the new club to play with the Brisbane Broncos in 1995. It was unfortunate that Smith hit his best form at a time when the code was in turmoil and he did not represent again until 1997’s Super League season. He proved his durability at the highest level in making three appearances in Queensland’s Tri-Series campaign as well as playing in all five Super League Tests against NZ and Great Britain. When the game reunified in 1998, Smith returned to the Queensland State team and scored the final try in Brisbane's 38-12 thrashing of C’bury in the grand final. In an ironic twist to his career, and after making his Test debut against NZ at the end of the year, Smith announced that he was returning to the Bulldogs in 1999. Smith left the Bulldogs at the end of 2002 – denied the opportunity to finally win a premiership with the club when it was stripped of its competition points – to play with St Helens. At the end of his first English season Smith was inexplicably called into Australia’s Third Test team – despite being 35 years old – during the Ashes series by his former C’bury coach, national coach Chris Anderson who felt the available Kangaroo centres were not experienced enough. Smith returned to Australia in 2004 and made cameo appearances with the Broncos in two matches while playing for Brisbane Easts. He finally retired as a player after Easts was beaten in the grand final of the Queensland Cup.