 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Smith | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 7 November 1999 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 99 kg (15 st 8 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre, Wing | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [1] As of 9 September 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Billy Smith (born 7 November 1999) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Smith was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Prior to his league career, Smith attended high school at The Scots College [2] where he played for the school's 1st XV in rugby union.
Smith played for the Wyong Roos during the 2018 Intrust Super Premiership NSW season. After Wyong exited the competition, Smith played for North Sydney in the first half of the 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW season scoring nine tries in six games before receiving a call up to the Sydney Roosters first grade side. [3]
In round 23 of the 2019 NRL season, Smith made his NRL debut for the Roosters against the St. George Illawarra Dragons scoring a try in a 34-12 victory at Kogarah Oval. [4]
During pre-season training for the 2020 NRL season, Smith suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury during a contact session. Sydney Roosters head coach Trent Robinson confirmed the injury saying “It’s Billy’s other knee and it’s an ACL, One of the doctors was telling me a stat where once you suffer one ACL injury you’re then a 25 per cent chance of doing the other knee inside two years if you’re under 21. We’re all feeling for Billy, there was a big opportunity there for him but the type of person he is he’ll fight back from this". Smith was widely tipped to start the year at left centre after the departure of Latrell Mitchell. [5] Smith reported to the NRL integrity unit regarding knowledge about the infamous Sam Burgess sexting scandal. [6]
On 17 February 2021, Smith was ruled out for four months with a shoulder injury which he suffered at training. [7]
In round 17 of the 2021 NRL season, Smith made his long awaited return and scored a try during the Sydney Roosters 22-16 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown. [8] On 27 July, it was revealed that Smith would be ruled out for the rest of the 2021 NRL season after suffering a lisfranc foot injury. [9]
In round 18 of the 2022 NRL season, Smith was taken from the field during the Sydney Roosters 54-26 victory over St. George Illawarra with a knee injury. Smith was later ruled out for the rest of the 2022 NRL season with an ACL injury. [10]
In round 10 of the 2023 NRL season, Smith played his first NRL game in almost one year for the Sydney Roosters in their shock loss to North Queensland. [11] [12] In the 2023 elimination final against Cronulla, Smith fractured his jaw during the match and was later ruled out for an indefinite period. The Sydney Roosters would go on to record a 13-12 upset victory. [13]
Brett Morris is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played on the wing and as a fullback for the St George Illawarra Dragons, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL) and Australia at international level.
Joshua Morris is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer who last played as a centre for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL and Australia at international level.
Adam Reynolds is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains and plays as a halfback for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Clinton Gutherson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the St. George Illawarra Dragons the National Rugby League.
Alex Johnston is a professional rugby league footballer who primarily plays on the wing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League. He has played for both Australia and Papua New Guinea at international level.
Viliame Kikau is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL), and Fiji at international level.
Latrell Mitchell is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League (NRL), and has represented both New South Wales in the State of Origin series and Australia at international level as a centre.
Taane Milne is a Fiji international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League.
Nathan Cleary is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League and Australia at international level. He won the Clive Churchill Medal in 2021 and 2023 as well as Dally M Halfback of the year in 2020 and 2021. As co-captain, Cleary also led the Penrith Panthers to 5 consecutive grand final appearances, including four consecutive premiership wins from 2021 to 2024. He is considered one of the best halfbacks of all time, and is predicted by several previous greats of the NRL including Cameron Smith, Andrew Johns, Cooper Cronk, and Johnathan Thurston to become the greatest player in history, should his career continue on its current trajectory.
Siosifa Talakai is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or second-row forward for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Joseph Manu is a New Zealand professional rugby footballer who plays for Toyota Verblitz in the Japan Rugby League One. He previously played as a centre for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL), with whom he won premierships in 2018 and 2019, and represented New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest centres in the game.
Victor Derrick Radley is an England international rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. He won back-to-back NRL premierships with the Roosters in 2018 and 2019.
Campbell Graham is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or winger for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL and Australia at international level.
Sitili Tupouniua is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Luke Garner is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Kyle Flanagan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Corey Allan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a wing, fullback and centre for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Maika Sivo is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League, and represents Fiji at international level.
Jaxson Paulo is a Samoa international rugby league footballer from New Zealand who plays as a winger for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Samuel Walker is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL).