Billy Smith - Legend who hasn't been shown true Respect by NRL & media

[Inisai Toga]

He used to have a running war with John lurch O’Neill. That would be the equivalent of a modern halfback taking on Fisher- Harris or JWH. Mmmm… can’t think of one????

 

[Gareth67]

Great yarns of one of of the Saints greatest players from yesteryear , each of which characterises the man very well indeed .

Had so much heart and simply adored the Big Red V , if not for his tremendous exploits then perhaps, just perhaps , the mighty Saints may not had won as many premierships as they did .

 

[Trifili13]

Only caught the end of Billy Smith's career, but I am sure he also excelled as a centre, and not simply as a stop gap. Not many halfbacks today could play such different positions to the level that Smith played them.

 

[denis preston]

Billy was always a pugnacious wild child mixed in with a healthy amount of the mischievous Puck.

At the SCG one GF they had the cavalcade of sports cars with their roofs down with lots of greats sitting on the back waving to the crowd and all of a sudden Billy hops the fence from the outer and runs out towards them.

Sticks was coming past in his car and he got it to stop and beckoned Billy to come sit beside him and like an errant school boy being chastised by the principal he hopped up and gave Sticks a cuddle and Sticks patted him on the head.

Sticks once said that Billy was the best half he ever played with or saw and that was long after both their careers were over so that is certainly a good enough testimony for me.

Funny then , as when he needed his “ best half “ in the big games he played him elsewhere!

 

[Old Timer]

Funny then , as when he needed his “ best half “ in the big games he played him elsewhere!

George Evans was so good that it allowed Billy to play in the centres when required

Saints were blessed with options and having unbelievable depth across so many positions although centre was probably our worst.

Billy Smith

Billy Smith is remembered as one of the great halfbacks, but his initial impact in the St George team of the 1960s was as a centre, partnering the great Reg Gasnier in grand final victories in 1963, 1964 and 1965.

www.nrl.com

 

[maestro1]

George Evans was so good that it allowed Billy to play in the centres when required

Saints were blessed with options and having unbelievable depth across so many positions although centre was probably our worst.

Billy Smith

Billy Smith is remembered as one of the great halfbacks, but his initial impact in the St George team of the 1960s was as a centre, partnering the great Reg Gasnier in grand final victories in 1963, 1964 and 1965.

www.nrl.com

They mentioned to Billy whether he minded doing some of Gasnier's defence. Billy's response was, "as long as he keeps scoring those tries, I'll do his defence for him" ....or words to that effect.

 

[maestro1]

Billy was always a pugnacious wild child mixed in with a healthy amount of the mischievous Puck.

At the SCG one GF they had the cavalcade of sports cars with their roofs down with lots of greats sitting on the back waving to the crowd and all of a sudden Billy hops the fence from the outer and runs out towards them.

Sticks was coming past in his car and he got it to stop and beckoned Billy to come sit beside him and like an errant school boy being chastised by the principal he hopped up and gave Sticks a cuddle and Sticks patted him on the head.

Sticks once said that Billy was the best half he ever played with or saw and that was long after both their careers were over so that is certainly a good enough testimony for me.

That was also another snub from the NRL to Billy. He should have been in those open top cars but wasn't invited. He was at least an equal to all that rode in those open top vehicles.

 

[maestro1]

Funny then , as when he needed his “ best half “ in the big games he played him elsewhere!

By playing Billy in the centres, he was able to play both champions in the team as Billy was also an amazing centre and Evans was an excellent half.

 

[maestro1]

I'd take Thurston over Johns every day of the week.
Never saw Billy play. Is there a "modern" player whose style was similar to his so I can get an idea of what kind of player he was?

Think of a skilfull, fast running Raudonikas with a wonderful kicking game who tackled like no other half before him or after him. They once had a story on Billy in Big League where they showed a diagram of all the bones he had broken. Toughest bugger ever.

 

[Ghostrider22]

good old Billy had a habit of telling anyone of authority what they probably did not want to hear.

So true hahaha, loves a chat doesn’t mind a brown lemonade. Just a nice bloke with a mountain of history.

 

[SIR LANCELOT]

Truly one of the greatest to have played our game.Watched Billy from start to finish of his career.Followers of the game today would be in awe of the effort he put in with every game he played.I agree with many others WHY has he not been honoured as others have been.Deserves the highest rewards that this game can give.
Onya Billy Smith.

 

[Saint52]

Was my favourite growing up as a teen, and best 1/2 I have seen, including Johns the immortal!

 

[since77]

Modern? Probably not.

Billy was as tough as Raudonikis but more skilful. Great ball player - short pass when opponents expected a straight out the backs move, switch it up the blind etc. Great kicking game, could find touch back when that was a thing to get the feed and head, good little chip. Could make a break. Had an uncanny link with Changa. Had Rocket running off him when Reddy was young, and helped him develop his own ball skills as he got a little older.

Tough as teak, and wouldnt back down from anybody.

There is no 1 player to compare him with but this might give you some sort of idea.

He had the cheek, guile and kicking skills of Alfie.
He had the toughness and resilience of Raudonikis and Foran. One season he broke his fore-arm in 2 places and had it plated and bolted and turned out for the semi final 3 weeks later
He had the play making and defensive skills of Stirling.
He had the ability to read the game of Wally.

Defensively, those guys wouldn’t be in the same room as Smithy imo, despite their wide skills set.

Think of a skilfull, fast running Raudonikas with a wonderful kicking game who tackled like no other half before him or after him. They once had a story on Billy in Big League where they showed a diagram of all the bones he had broken. Toughest bugger ever.

Thanks for the answers everyone!

 

[jak]

Thanks for the answers everyone!

thanks for bringing back the memories for us old farts.

 

[blacksafake]

Loved Billy, He & Chang made me a dragons supporter.

 

[RedVee]

Loved Billy, He & Chang made me a dragons supporter.

I had 3 almost inseparable “best players” growing up. Smith, Langlands and Beetson. Not surprisingly they are at the top of my favourites list as well.

When Saints lost the 56-66 Champions, people used to mock them by calling them a “2 player team” (my Dad used to get furious at that!), Smith & Langlands. Funnily enough those two were still good enough to take them to the semis most years.

I remember when Ross Strudwick played for Qld and made the Australian team. Commentators saying “if he stayed at Saints he’d be behind Smith”. Another (I guess ex) rep player came out in the press answering that with “he still should be behind Smith”. Meaning Smith should be the Aussie half.

Billy Smith could play. Unfortunately he wore out his welcome off the field. More a nuisance than anything real bad (afaik).

 

[mbk78]

I think Billy has missed out on Immortal status simply because of the team he played in. In the minds of some (non-Dragon supporters) having Gasnier, Raper AND Langlands as Immortals meant we were over-represented in that regard - particularly in the early years of the concept. It is probably why it took so long for Norm Provan to be elevated to that status - a travesty given he was a 10-time premiership winner, a feat unlikely to be matched. On that basis alone, Sticks should have been one of the first Immortals, not one of the later ones. (Side note: if Nathan Cleary were to achieve a similar feat I'd bet my house he would be elevated to Immortal status at the first opportunity).

Anyway the point I'm trying to make here is that all things being equal Billy should have been made an immortal a long time ago but the Dragons unprecedented success of the 50's & 60's - with so many superstars in the team - probably worked against him. I would have loved to have seen him recognised at the same time as Ron Coote as they were both champions in the same era. Alas I think that was an opportunity lost and it won't ever be rectified.

 

[denis preston]

To get a picture for those that didn’t see him play.great defender, very good kicking game inc field goals. In attack he was very fast and would position himself between two defenders and then put the unmarked player away Constantly. Didn’t score as many tries as he should but geez he set up hundreds . Because of the era he played in , these last second’s passes inverably led him to cop plenty of stiff arms and late tackles so his bravery was never an issue.

 

[Hound of Dracula]

Loved Billy, He & Chang made me a dragons supporter.

Ditto

Then in my mid-twenties, years after Billy played, I was very excited to find out I was working with a close relative of Billy's.

Unfortunately, he shattered the memories of my boyhood idol with tales of multiple post-retirement 'incidents' all involving alcohol. He pissed many people off.

Seems Billy had difficulty adjusting to life post football.

On the bright side, when I met Johnny King, he spoke only of the brilliance of both Billy & Changa (Amongst others) regarding their on-field brilliance.

 

[maestro1]

Ditto

Then in my mid-twenties, years after Billy played, I was very excited to find out I was working with a close relative of Billy's.

Unfortunately, he shattered the memories of my boyhood idol with tales of multiple post-retirement 'incidents' all involving alcohol. He pissed many people off.

Seems Billy had difficulty adjusting to life post football.

On the bright side, when I met Johnny King, he spoke only of the brilliance of both Billy & Changa (Amongst others) regarding their on-field brilliance.

The same personality traits that made him the best halfback probably made him crazy on the pi$$