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Bob Smithies

  • Playing Career

Playing Career

All information provided below is based only on data available in the RLP database and should be used as a guide only.

Vital Statistics

Full Name
Robert Smithies
Born
Thursday, 26th February, 1948
Died
Tuesday, 5th November, 2019 (Aged 71 years and 252 days)

Competitions Won

NSWRFL Premiership (NRL)
1969

Biography

Balmain's grand final fullback in the 11-2 win over Souths in 1969, Smithies was originally from Dapto in the I’warra competition. English-born, he came to Balmain after winning the I’warra competition in 1968, and later played for Hull KR.
- ALAN WHITICKER

Playing Career Statistics

To view a list of corresponding matches, click on the List button.
Representative Career - International   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G   A GK % 1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Tour Matches Hull Kingston RoversHKR - 1 - 1 --- -     - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Tour Matches Illawarra FirstsILL - 1 - 1 --- -     - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Representative Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G   A GK % 1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSW City vs Country - 1 - 1 --- -     - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Club Career - Australia   Comp Wins Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G   A GK % 1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) 1 58 - 58 14-14 2     - - - 46 - - - 36 21 1 62.07% List
NRL Finals - 3 - 3 --- -     - - - - - - - 2 1 - 66.67% List
Preseason Cup - 12 - 12 2-2 -     - - - 6 - - - 5 7 - 41.67% List
Midweek Cup - 2 - 2 --- -     - - - - - - - - 2 - 0.00% List
Endeavour Cup - 2 - 2 1-1 -     - - - 3 - - - 1 1 - 50.00% List
Overall   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G   A GK % 1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
First Class  75 - 75 16-16 2     - - - 52 - - - 42 32 1 56.00% List

Australia - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G   A GK % 1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
NSW City Seconds 1969   1 - 1 --- -     - - - - - - - - 1 - 0.00% List
Sydney Firsts 1970   1 - 1 --- -     - - - - - - - 1 - - 100.00% List
Illawarra Firsts 1975, 1977   3 - 3 --- -     - - - - - - - 1 2 - 33.33% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Year

Team Season   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G   A GK % 1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
BalmainBalmain 19691969 NSWRFL   23 - 232-2 2     - - - 10 - - - 18 5 - 78.26% List
BalmainBalmain 19701970 NSWRFL   20 - 209-9 -     - - - 27 - - - 12 7 1 60.00% List
BalmainBalmain 19711971 NSWRFL   15 - 153-3 -     - - - 9 - - - 6 9 - 40.00% List

NSWRFL (NRL Premiership) - By Team

Team Years   Starts Int APP 3ST 3PT T G   A GK % 1FG 2FG FG Pts Bin5 Bin Off W L D Win%  
Balmain 1969-71   58 - 58 14-14 2     - - - 46 - - - 36 21 1 62.07% List

Your Say

  • Polysci
    7 May 2012 7:04pm

    Unusual for a full-back in an era in which full-backs tended to take the long punts downfield, Smithies did NOT have a strong boot on him.

  • Graeme
    25 Sep 2012 10:02pm

    I think Bob played for Wollongong Teachers' College Rugby Union First Grade side, in 1965.

  • bernie bickerdike
    21 Oct 2012 2:22am

    bob,s genuine speed in the return of the kick caught everyone in this era off guard

  • Anonymous
    12 Oct 2017 9:45pm

    Bloody good bloke was my PE teacher st Ashfield boys high

  • Anonymous
    19 Apr 2019 7:53pm

    I am going back a few years now like late 60s early 70s I am sure he was my teacher at Stanmore public school...

  • Peter
    7 Feb 2020 2:59pm

    Vale Bob Smithies Passed away 5/11/2019

  • Greg.
    9 Sep 2023 9:36pm

    Bob played full back for the Dapto Canaries prior to playing for Balmain. This was back in the days when Dapto's home ground, the Dapto showground, was packed with fans enjoying the skills of players like Bobby Smithies.

  • Len Callaghan
    1 Jul 2024 3:10pm

    Played with Bob in the 1963 NSW schools series v QLD Bob scored the only and winning try in the 7-3 defeat of QLD in the second test to win the series. The first and only time I ever kissed a player.

  • Anonymous
    6 Jul 2025 6:55pm

    Bobby was my Dapto juniors coach. Great man and loyal. Visited me in hospital after an accident. A man I will never forget.

  • Alan. S
    20 Sep 2025 10:33pm

    As someone else mentioned, Bob was my PE teacher at Ashfield Boys High in 1970. The year after Balmain won the GF over South's.
    He was a great guy, and I got him to sign my autograph book. Underneath his signature he wrote "Up the Tigers"
    RIP Bobby Smithies.

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Contributions: Greg Fiveash, Rugby League Tables, Paul Carter, Andrew Ferguson, Max Turner, Tony McCarron, Shawn Dollin, Alan Katzmann, AJ Lucantonio, Tim Costello

Sources: News Reports