Born: July 18, 1981 – Huntly
Test record: 3 Tests (2007) – 0 points
Tours: 2007 tour of Britain and France

Late-blooming halfback Jeremy Smith played three Tests for New Zealand in 2007 after a breakout season at South Sydney.

Born in Huntly, Smith came through the junior ranks of the Berala Bears in Sydney and represented the Junior Kiwis in 1998 alongside the likes of Ali Lauitiiti and Lesley Vainikolo while contracted to St George Dragons.

The 19-year-old was still on the Dragons’ books when he was selected in Aotearoa Māori’s squad for the 2000 World Cup, featuring in the pool loss to Samoa.

Smith’s career got a second win at Parramatta when he helped the club’s Premier League team to grand final success in 2005. He played 13 NRL games for the Eels in 2006; despite receiving a suspension for infamously pushing referee Sean Hampstead in a match agains the Dragons, he was snapped up by the big-spending Rabbitohs for 2007.

The steady playmaker was a mainstay for Souths as they snapped an 18-year finals drought in 2007, subsequently earning a Kiwis call-up at the end of the season.

He debuted in New Zealand’s record 58-0 loss to Australia in Wellington (alongside, in one of the great coincidences, back-row namesake newcomer, Kiwi #742 Jeremy Smith). Following the Kiwis’ heavy losses in the first two Tests against Great Britain, Smith wore the No.7 in the 28-22 dead-rubber loss at Wigan and the 22-14 win over France in Paris.

Smith was usurped at club level by rookie half Chris Sandow in 2008 – playing only four games for the Rabbitohs – but he had a fruitful two-season Super League stint with Salford (2009-10) before finishing his professional career with Wakefield Trinity (2011). He came off the bench in New Zealand Māori’s 18-all draw with Great Britain at Mt Smart Stadium in 2010.