Jeremy Smith (rugby league, born 1981)

For fellow New Zealand Kiwis representative Jeremy Jon Oscar Smith, see Jeremy Smith (rugby league, born 1980).

Jeremy James Smith (born 18 July 1981) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who previously played for the Parramatta Eels and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL, and the Salford City Reds and the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the Super League. Primarily playing as a five-eighth or halfback, Smith has represented the New Zealand Māori and New Zealand national teams.

Jeremy Smith

Personal information
Full name	Jeremy James Smith[1]
Born	(1981-07-18) 18 July 1981 (age 44) Huntly, New Zealand
Playing information
Height	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	90 kg (14 st 2 lb)
Position	Five-eighth, Halfback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2006 Parramatta Eels 13 1 0 0 4 2007–08 South Sydney 26 4 0 0 16 2009–10 Salford City Reds 45 2 0 0 8 2011 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 10 1 0 0 4 Total 94 8 0 0 32 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2000–10 New Zealand Māori 5 1 0 0 4 2007 New Zealand 3 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]

==Playing career==Waiheke rams (NZ)is where it all started for Jeremy. He then moved to Australia and played for berala bears in the Canterbury bulldogs district, alongside future NRL players Matt utai, Junior Langi and Andrew Emelio. A St. George Dragons junior, Smith made the Junior Kiwis in 1998,1999,and also 2000 but had pull out to play in the 2000 World Cup for NZ Māoris.^[4] He played for the Aotearoa Māori side at the 2000 World Cup. In 2001 he played for the Hibiscus Coast Raiders in the Bartercard Cup.^[5]

Smith played for the Parramatta Eels between 2005 and 2006. Smith was suspended for four matches in 2006 after pushing a referee in Parramatta's bizarre 8–1 loss to St. George. The judiciary had found that Smith pushed referee Sean Hampstead in the back with both hands after a scrum was ruled against Parramatta.^[6][7] He has also represented the New Zealand Maori side.^[8]

Smith then signed with South Sydney for the 2007 NRL season. He penned his deal short after the announcement that his coach at the time, Jason Taylor would also join the South Sydney club in 2007. Smith joined the Salford City Reds at the beginning of the 2009 season. Smith again played for the New Zealand Māori in 2010 against England.^[9]

Smith has signed a one-year deal with Super League outfit, Wakefield Trinity ahead of the 2011 season. Smith was injured during the off season and could not play in any friendlies due to visa problems, which meant he had little match fitness when he made his début in Round 3 against Salford. He returned to Australia in 2012, signing with the St. George Illawarra Dragons and playing NSW Cup for the Illawarra Cutters.^[10]