Billy Smith

[Smacka]

This legend turned 80 on Tuesday (12/7/22).
I first met him as a 10 year old & then spent many a game cheering the Dragons on with him in front of the Kiosk in the south-west corner of Jubilee Stadium. A humble , quietly spoken Fellow who just appreciated you taking the time to say g'day. "Thanks for remembering me" was his greeting to those who approached him.
We need more of these People in our Game.

 

[Illusion]

A Legend of the game , they don't make them like that anymore ...... Happy Birthday ......

 

[Inisai Toga]

Wonderful, superb all round player. Loved watching him play. Often reflect how good he was on all facets of the game especially now in how they praise ad nauseam modern halves. Bill had all the skills and tough as teak! Happy b’day Billy!

 

[Smacka]

Should have been named an Immortal - others in that group can consider themselves very fortunate.

 

[merahputih]

Raper, Smith, Clay. Pretty decent scrum base trio. Happy Birthday, Billy. I hope they let you have a couple of sherberts.

 

[mbk78]

I remember being at a Dragons corporate function back about 10 years ago. Steve Edge was interviewing Johnny Raper on stage about the great years of the Dragons when out of the blue a voice piped up and said “Oh shut the fu*k up Chook! You know I was the one that made you look good”. The whole place just cracked up! That just sums up Billy to a tee.

 

[Dragon David]

Happy 80th Birthday Billy. You, Chook and Changa - the three amigos of the bygone years.

 

[Trifili13]

I know it's hard to compare players from different eras, and it could be a bit of my bias being a St George supporter, but I'd back our guys from the 'never before never again' era against the QLD SOO teams with Smith, Cronk, Slater, Thurston and co, any day of the week.

 

[hewi]

Who remembers the bus at the Penfolds BBQ in the Hunter valley that ended his Dragons career if I have it correctly

 

[Inisai Toga]

I know it's hard to compare players from different eras, and it could be a bit of my bias being a St George supporter, but I'd back our guys from the 'never before never again' era against the QLD SOO teams with Smith, Cronk, Slater, Thurston and co, any day of the week.

couldn’t agree more!

 

[Old Timer]

He had morning tea in our house in Peakhurst in the 60’s
He had just started to make his way into 1st grade and Billy was working for Buckingham’s as a salesman / time payment collector
His boss Mr Sullivan introduced him to mum and told us young Billy would become a pretty good footballer
A few months later Mr Sullivan called in and was having a cup of tea with mum and she asked him what happened to that nice cut of a young man he had with him a few months ago and Mr Sullivan said he had become a very good footballer and had to train 2 days a week and was putting in extra hours as well so he had to find a new job to allow him to do that.
Billy and Changa just so professional in everything they did
Happy birthday Billy and thank god you survived that spat with Lurch in France

 

[Saints Forever]

Legend in every sense of the word

The ultimate competitor

Tremendous defender

Made Rocket Reddy into a representative player with magical ball distribution

Tougher than Toyota.

 

[Ghostrider22]

Just like to wish Billy a happy birthday, a Legend

 

[Gareth67]

Yes a happy birthday to you Billy . One of my favourite players if not the best . Recall a game back in the 60’s when most of the Dragons were playing in the Test match in Brisbane against the poms and young Billy was called upon to move to the centers .

I cannot recall whom the Saints were playing , however their big men ran at Billy all afternoon and Smith cut each and every one of them down with copy book defence.

Played his early days at the Big Red V in the centers , but still for a small fella he certainly played well and truly above his weight and his scrum base skills were second to none .

 

[Hard Yards]

Harry Bath had the task of looking at players to replace Billy such as the young dragon Lee Pomfret, who when chosen caused a back page headline at the time, Billy was playing on heart with a busted leg, Harry had to look to the future. Pomfret can be seen on the sideline in the 77 grand final. The infamous bus trip sadly was his swan song.

 

[Blood Shot Eyes]

Happy Birthday Billy......Never before.....Never again

 

[Yow]

He had morning tea in our house in Peakhurst in the 60’s
He had just started to make his way into 1st grade and Billy was working for Buckingham’s as a salesman / time payment collector
His boss Mr Sullivan introduced him to mum and told us young Billy would become a pretty good footballer
A few months later Mr Sullivan called in and was having a cup of tea with mum and she asked him what happened to that nice cut of a young man he had with him a few months ago and Mr Sullivan said he had become a very good footballer and had to train 2 days a week and was putting in extra hours as well so he had to find a new job to allow him to do that.
Billy and Changa just so professional in everything they did
Happy birthday Billy and thank god you survived that spat with Lurch in France

Billy and Lurch made up in France and no more fighting each other but in a early trial match the next year Billy thought one for the road and whacked Lurch with a swinging arm Billy broke his arm told me wasn’t his best decision

 

[Old Timer]

Billy and Lurch made up in France and no more fighting each other but in a early trial match the next year Billy thought one for the road and whacked Lurch with a swinging arm Billy broke his arm told me wasn’t his best decision

Interesting how many players had steel plates inserted to fix broken fore arms back in those days no doubt mainly from swinging arms in tackles.
Billy did his a couple of times and if not mistaken Abdul had 2 inserted due to a really bad break and at 1 time played with an arm guard to protect it whilst the plate was still in and the arm still broken.
Mighty tough men back in the days when turning out for your club meant everything to a player and his teammates.

 

[Yow]

Interesting how many players had steel plates inserted to fix broken fore arms back in those days no doubt mainly from swinging arms in tackles.
Billy did his a couple of times and if not mistaken Abdul had 2 inserted due to a really bad break and at 1 time played with an arm guard to protect it whilst the plate was still in and the arm still broken.
Mighty tough men back in the days when turning out for your club meant everything to a player and his teammates.

Billy stayed on the field even though it was a trial till Paul Sait picked him up and drove him into the turf Billy stuck out the broken arm to break the fall didn’t help much . I could listen to Billy’s stories all day long but I would need a bigger beer fridge , love you little man happy 80 Th

 

[denis preston]

Best way to explain Billy for me was the way he would run ( and he was quick ) between defences and wait until the last second to pass the ball. He had drawn two defence players by doing this and always made outside him look good. He got belted every time. They say Roudonikis was tough but not as tough as Billy. Reaching 80 is a miracle and shows how tough he is.