Latest news with #RyleySmith
ABC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Dean Widders: Rugby League should be at the forefront of tackling racism
It's Indigenous Round in the NRL over the next 2 weekends and one of the best advocates for celebrating and promoting the First Nations contributions is Dean Widders. He told Andrew Moore and Ryan Hoffman how he was inspired by the great Arthur Beetson to see the positive influence that rugby league can have on his community. He also explained that even though there are as many as 6 or 7 incidents of racist abuse around the game at all levels each weekend - the game is uniquely placed to educate people and break down barriers. Plus Parramatta hooker Ryley Smith show he's as impressive off the field as well as on it. He explained how he still has to pinch himself when he comes up against the likes of Harry Grant or NSW hooker Reece Robson who he'll take on this weekend. Plus get your tips for the weekend in Christopher's Corner!
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Live SuperCoach scores, analysis and updates from NRL Magic Round
Don't get it confused. Ryley Smith isn't another Reed Mahoney. Parramatta's No.9 hasn't been able to escape the comparisons to former Eels hooker Mahoney perhaps due to his size and choice of headgear. 'Reed's a great player but I'm just happy to be playing my game. If comparisons come though then that's great, but I'm just Ryley,' Smith said. But in a tough start to Parramatta's season, Smith's performances since his Round 1 debut have been a shining light for the club. He stands out among the pack, quite literally with his bright ice-blue headgear. That's always been the point he says. 'I had another one up until I was probably 14 and then mum bought me the one that I wear now, just so she could see me better on the field,' Smith explained. 'It's just stuck and is something that's a part of me now. I've seen someone was wearing the blue headgear on TV the other day, someone in the crowd was wearing one so if it's something I can start, that could be pretty cool. 'I get a bit of stick off the boys for having a light blue one, but no, it won't be going anywhere.' The NRL crowds are much bigger compared to the junior ones, but still mum Cathy can always spot her son in the Steeden when she comes to watch him play. 'Definitely mum and dad, they're my biggest supporters so I do it all for them. They've always kept me in line, they've disciplined me when they've needed to and they've let me have fun and just enjoy the rollercoaster that The NRL is so far.' Smith was just as recognisable as a junior for his athletic ability. Also an impressive representative cricketer in his youth, Smith found himself in the Australian under-18 cricket team. The morning after finishing his HSC Smith found out he'd also made the Australian Schoolboys Rugby League team, becoming just the second person in St Dominic's history to do both after South Sydney footballer Bronko Djura from the 1980s. At a crossroads, Smith made the decision to commit to league. 'When I was 19 it was just getting in the way of footy. It wasn't fair on either so I feel I had to put all my eggs in one basket,' he said. 'At the time, I thought that footy was the best decision so that was sort of what I went with at the end of the day. I feel that's turned out alright.' His Parramatta teammates certainly don't let him live his past down. Without provocation, at Smith's name, Junior Paulo laughed. 'Ah, the cricket player,' he joked. 'He's going really well for us. For someone so young, he is definitely mature and coming into first grade he has certainly shown that he belongs here. 'There's a reason why he's in our team, he just competes on everything, so he's going good.' Smith's strong performances should come as no surprise to fans given he came through rivals Penrith's system in SG Ball and Jersey Flegg alongside his teammate fullback Isiah Iongi. He says the two can build a formidable partnership in the spine off the back of Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses. 'We played in the 2022 Flegg season and then have always been mates since. I think we're building really nicely us two rookies with Dyl and Mitch we're finding a really good connection and building something really good,' Smith said. 'For me and Izzy at the moment it's just about learning off them two. They've done it for so long now and we're just trying to pick their brains and then be the best players we can.' After three starting hookers to start the year for Parramatta in Brendan Hands, Joey Lussick and Charlie Guymer, coach Jason Ryles seems to have found his man in Smith. The hooker played a strong role in his first full 80-minute stint for his sides famous Easter Monday win against a Galvin-less Tigers, but won't in a rush to come up against Sunia Turuva again. 'The biggest thing I learnt is how fast momentum can change in an NRL game, how ruthless it is and how good the opposition is as well. So I think just for me, it's about picking my moments and nailing them. 'There was a lot of tension last week and a lot of competitiveness in the game and when we went down to 11 it was definitely tough, but it was awesome. It was really good to get a win with Mitch back.' Fresh off the bye, the hooker will once again make up part of the Eels' starting 13 to open Magic Round on Friday against a battling Sharks outfit. Smith, whether down to his performance or his bright blue cap, will be as noticeable as always.
Perth Now
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Why Eels rookie Smith picked NRL career over cricket
If things had gone differently, Ryley Smith might have begun his professional sporting career pulling bouncers over the leg side for NSW rather than passing Steedens out of dummy half for Parramatta. Smith's rugby league talents have earned him selection in every game of Jason Ryles' first season as coach, but the hooker was more than a handy cricketer as a teenager in the Blue Mountains. In fact, at 18 Smith became the first man since Bronko Djura in the 1980s to be picked in both the Australian schoolboys rugby league team and its cricket equivalent. A top-order batter with handy wicketkeeping abilities, Smith had earlier been selected for a tour to Dubai, where the Australian under-16 team faced Pakistan in a five-match series in 2019. "That trip to Dubai when I was 15 was one of the most memorable moments of my life. I learned a lot of life lessons," the 22-year-old told AAP. Smith counted former Test cricketers Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers among his coaches on a rise that could have ended in a professional cricket career. But at 19 Smith held a contract in Penrith's rugby league junior system and found himself at a crossroads, needing for the first time to choose between his two great sporting loves. Going with his gut and the advice of loved ones, Smith turned his back on the willow and leather to dive into rugby league. "It was just what I thought was in my best interests at the time and I sort of just put my head down and put all my eggs in one basket, into one sport," he said. "I felt like that wasn't something I could really do when I was younger, I couldn't just focus on the one. I thought I'd better make my decision." For Smith, there appeared more chances to make the big time - and more of a home to be found - in rugby league. "There's better opportunity with footy,'' he said. "Cricket you get to travel the world a bit more, which was something that was pretty cool that stood out to me. "When I was at Penrith, Penrith was my home at the time, and now I'm here at Parramatta and this is my new home." Smith still tries to head out for a nets session every now and then, and impressed his Parramatta teammates at a team indoor cricket session in the pre-season. They have been just as impressed with his rise from relative obscurity to NRL selection this season. "Coming into first grade, he's certainly shown that he belongs here. There's a reason why he's in our team, he just competes on everything," said Eels prop Junior Paulo. Smith played only a handful of NSW Cup games in his first season after arriving at the Eels from Penrith, but won over Ryles after joining the NRL squad for his first pre-season over the summer. Injuries to Joey Lussick and Brendan Hands cleared the path for him to start in last week's upset of Wests Tigers, with the hooker holding his spot to face Cronulla at Magic Round. "It's all happened pretty quick. I wasn't really thinking of playing NRL this year, and now I'm starting," Smith said. "I just sort of thought I'd put my head down and train really hard and anything could happen, and I guess the best has happened."
West Australian
30-04-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Why Eels rookie Smith picked NRL career over cricket
If things had gone differently, Ryley Smith might have begun his professional sporting career pulling bouncers over the leg side for NSW rather than passing Steedens out of dummy half for Parramatta. Smith's rugby league talents have earned him selection in every game of Jason Ryles' first season as coach, but the hooker was more than a handy cricketer as a teenager in the Blue Mountains. In fact, at 18 Smith became the first man since Bronko Djura in the 1980s to be picked in both the Australian schoolboys rugby league team and its cricket equivalent. A top-order batter with handy wicketkeeping abilities, Smith had earlier been selected for a tour to Dubai, where the Australian under-16 team faced Pakistan in a five-match series in 2019. "That trip to Dubai when I was 15 was one of the most memorable moments of my life. I learned a lot of life lessons," the 22-year-old told AAP. Smith counted former Test cricketers Ryan Harris and Chris Rogers among his coaches on a rise that could have ended in a professional cricket career. But at 19 Smith held a contract in Penrith's rugby league junior system and found himself at a crossroads, needing for the first time to choose between his two great sporting loves. Going with his gut and the advice of loved ones, Smith turned his back on the willow and leather to dive into rugby league. "It was just what I thought was in my best interests at the time and I sort of just put my head down and put all my eggs in one basket, into one sport," he said. "I felt like that wasn't something I could really do when I was younger, I couldn't just focus on the one. I thought I'd better make my decision." For Smith, there appeared more chances to make the big time - and more of a home to be found - in rugby league. "There's better opportunity with footy,'' he said. "Cricket you get to travel the world a bit more, which was something that was pretty cool that stood out to me. "When I was at Penrith, Penrith was my home at the time, and now I'm here at Parramatta and this is my new home." Smith still tries to head out for a nets session every now and then, and impressed his Parramatta teammates at a team indoor cricket session in the pre-season. They have been just as impressed with his rise from relative obscurity to NRL selection this season. "Coming into first grade, he's certainly shown that he belongs here. There's a reason why he's in our team, he just competes on everything," said Eels prop Junior Paulo. Smith played only a handful of NSW Cup games in his first season after arriving at the Eels from Penrith, but won over Ryles after joining the NRL squad for his first pre-season over the summer. Injuries to Joey Lussick and Brendan Hands cleared the path for him to start in last week's upset of Wests Tigers, with the hooker holding his spot to face Cronulla at Magic Round. "It's all happened pretty quick. I wasn't really thinking of playing NRL this year, and now I'm starting," Smith said. "I just sort of thought I'd put my head down and train really hard and anything could happen, and I guess the best has happened."
