Neville Bussey Smith (13 December 1915 – 5 August 1997) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. A Queensland state representative, Smith became a premiership winning captain-coach with Sydney's St. George club. In seasons 1939 & 1941 he was the NSWRFL premiership's top point scorer.
Smith was first selected to representative honours in the New South Wales rugby league team in 1940 as captain and made six appearances in 1940 & 41. National representative sides did not play during WWII and Smith never represented his country.
At St George in 1939 aged just 23, Neville Smith was appointed the youngest captain-coach in the club's history and in 1941 he led the club to its inaugural premiership. In the Grand Final he was knocked unconscious in a heavy tackle but recovered to score 13 points (1 try and 5 goals). That season, he was again the league's highest point scorer. After winning the 1941 premiership as captain-coach of St. George Dragons, he sat out the 1942 season. Smith returned for a final year as captain-coach of St. George in the 1943 NSWRFL season. He played 59 first grade games for St. George Dragons during his time at the club, and scored a total of 281 points.
Neville Smith (seated 3rd from left) in St. George's 1941 premiership-winning team
neville, smith, rugby, league, neville, bussey, smith, december, 1915, august, 1997, australian, rugby, league, footballer, played, 1930s, 1940s, queensland, state, representative, smith, became, premiership, winning, captain, coach, with, sydney, george, club. Neville Bussey Smith 13 December 1915 5 August 1997 was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s A Queensland state representative Smith became a premiership winning captain coach with Sydney s St George club In seasons 1939 amp 1941 he was the NSWRFL premiership s top point scorer Neville SmithCaptain coach at 23yrs oldPersonal informationFull nameNeville Bussey SmithBorn 1915 12 13 13 December 1915Orange New South Wales AustraliaDied5 August 1997 1997 08 05 aged 81 Allawah New South Wales AustraliaPlaying informationPositionSecond rowClub Years Team Pld T G FG P 1936 38 Brisbane Valleys 1939 43 St George 59 15 118 281 Total 59 15 118 0 281 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 1938 Queensland 1 0 0 0 0 1940 41 New South Wales 6 6 9 0 36Coaching informationClub Years Team Gms W D L W 1939 43 St George 68 39 4 25 57 Contents 1 Career 2 Accolades 3 References 4 External links 5 Published sourcesCareer editAfter moving from Bathurst to Queensland in 1935 Smith played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for three seasons with Fortitude Valley and represented for the Maroons on two occasions in 1938 In 1939 he returned south to play in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership with the St George club and was the league s top point scorer that season Smith was first selected to representative honours in the New South Wales rugby league team in 1940 as captain and made six appearances in 1940 amp 41 National representative sides did not play during WWII and Smith never represented his country At St George in 1939 aged just 23 Neville Smith was appointed the youngest captain coach in the club s history and in 1941 he led the club to its inaugural premiership In the Grand Final he was knocked unconscious in a heavy tackle but recovered to score 13 points 1 try and 5 goals That season he was again the league s highest point scorer After winning the 1941 premiership as captain coach of St George Dragons he sat out the 1942 season Smith returned for a final year as captain coach of St George in the 1943 NSWRFL season He played 59 first grade games for St George Dragons during his time at the club and scored a total of 281 points nbsp Neville Smith seated 3rd from left in St George s 1941 premiership winning team Sporting positions Preceded byLen Kelly 1942 Coach nbsp St George1943 Succeeded byBill Kelly 1944 Preceded byNorm Pope 1938 Coach nbsp St George1939 1941 Succeeded byLen Kelly 1942Accolades editOn 20 July 2022 Smith was named in the St George Dragons District Rugby League Clubs team of the century 1 References edit Gasnier joins Immortals in St George Dragons Team of the Century National Rugby League 20 July 2022 External links editNeville Smith at yesterdayshero com au Queensland representatives at qrl com au Neville Smith at nrlstats comPublished sources editWhiticker Alan amp Hudson Glen 2006 The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players Gavin Allen Publishing Sydney Haddan Steve 2007 The Finals 100 Years of National Rugby League Finals Steve Haddan Publishing Brisbane nbsp This Australian rugby league football biography is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Neville Smith rugby league amp oldid 1181290207, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
