Tony Smith (rugby league born 1967)

For the former Wakefield coach and England international, see Tony Smith (rugby league b. 1970).

Tony Smith

Smith (centre) with the English national team in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Tony Smith
Born	24 January 1967 (1967-01-24) Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Position	Stand-off
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1987–91	Illawarra Steelers
1992–95	St. George Dragons
1996	Workington Town
	Total	0	0	0	0	0
Coaching information
Club
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
2000–01	Huddersfield Sheffield
2001–2003	Huddersfield Giants
2004–07	Leeds Rhinos
2009–	Warrington Wolves
	Total	0	0	0	0
Representative
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
2007	Great Britain	4	4	0	0	100
2008–2009	England	14	6	0	8	43

Tony Smith (born 24 January 1967 in Lismore, New South Wales) is a British-Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently Head of Coaching at English Super League club, Warrington Wolves. He is the younger brother of fellow rugby league coach, Brian Smith and uncle to Tongan national team coach, Rohan Smith.

In 2007, Smith was included in the Southstander.com Hall of Fame.

Career

Tony Smith played rugby league with the Illawarra Steelers, for whom he made 37 appearances and scored 9 tries, as well as the St. George Dragons for whom he played 28 games under the coaching of his older brother Brian Smith, including the 1992 Grand Final.

Workington Town

Tony Smith's involvement with British Rugby League began by finishing his playing career in 1996 with a spell at Workington Town in the inaugural Super League season. His initial time at Workington was hampered by achilles injury suffered two seasons previous, made all the worse by Workington's poor form which saw them relegated to National League One. He also notoriously lived above a Workington fish 'n' chip shop with his wife, commentating "every morning I trudged to training and swore we'd never come back to this country."

Huddersfield Giants

After returning home to Australia after finishing his playing career with Workington. Smith turned to coaching and applied for the job of Super League club Huddersfield Giants in September 2001. He first season in charge saw Huddersfield relegated to National League One, which consequently followed their dreadful start to the season losing 13 games in a row. A record number of consecutive defeats for a coach who held on to his job in British Rugby League

Conversely, Huddersfield returned to Super League the following year not losing a single game. This was culminated in their Grand Final defeat against Leigh which secured the team's promotion.

Leeds Rhinos

The Australian was appointed by the Rhinos in a surprise move in November 2003 as the club decided to move incumbent Daryl Powell into an upstairs role for two years from the start of the 2004 season.

He guided Leeds to their first Championship in 32 years in 2004 and the Rhinos went on to beat the Canterbury Bulldogs in the 2005 World Club Challenge at Elland Road. Later that year they suffered an unexpected defeat to Hull in the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final and were edged out by the Bradford Bulls in the 2005 Grand Final. Smith was named super League coach of the year however and signed a contract extension to the end of the 2006 season.

The Rhinos failed to win a trophy in the 2006 season, suffering defeat at the Semi-Final stage of the Challenge Cup and losing out to Warrington in week one of the play-offs.

However, in the 2006-2007 season, he managed to sign the Kiwi full-back of the year 2006 Brent Webb, and started the league campaign strongly. With great last gasp wins over the Bradford Bulls at both Odsall and in The Millennium Magic, and two victories over saints, Leeds finished 2nd. They narrowly lost in a brutal game 10-8 at Saints, but beat Wigan to ensure their place in the final. On the 13 October 2007, Leeds Rhinos beat Saint Helens 33-6 to become Super League champions, giving Tony Smith the perfect send off.

Great Britain

Smith has been announced as the successor Brian Noble to become the full-time coach of Great Britain. He will see out his Leeds contract until the end of the 2007 season and will combine the GB coaching role with that of performance director, heading up the Rugby Football League's technical department at Leeds Metropolitan University.

His first game in charge of Great Britain was the victory over France. The 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand followed starting with a 20-14 victory at Huddersfield, a 44-0 thrashing of the Kiwis in the 2nd test at Hull and a final test win at the JJB by 28 points to 22. Leeds Rhino players contributed hugely to these victories including Captain Jamie Peacock, half-backs Rob Burrow and Danny Mcguire, 2nd Row Gareth Ellis and centre Keith Senior. As this was the last test series as a Great Britain side on home soil. Smith will now lead the England side into the 2008 World Cup. Only overseas touring sides will use the Great Britain name.

England

Smith became a naturalized British citizen on 8 September 2008 at a ceremony in Huddersfield.

He has named his England training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

He has named his England squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

He has named his England team to face Wales at the Keepmoat Stadium prior to England's departure for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Warrington Wolves

On the 5th March 2009, Warrington Wolves announced that Smith was to take over as their new Head Coach. Former coach James Lowes, is set to continue his role at the club, assisting Smith. Smith will continue to coach England on a part time basis. His first game in charge of Warrington was a 14-20 defeat at home to former club Leeds Rhinos.

On 29 August 2009, he led Warrington to their first Challenge Cup final since 1990, and ultimately the team's first final victory since 1974, beating his former club Huddersfield Giants 25-16 and on the 28 August 2010 he is ledding Warrington to their second Challenge Cup against Smiths former club Leeds Rihinos.

Smith coached Warrington to their 2010 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Leeds Rhinos. and there are groups on Facebook about smith [1]

Smith coached the Warrington Wolves to their first League Leader's Shield in the Super League era in 2011 and the Wolves became the first team in 6 years to break 1,000 points scored during one season (the last team to do so being Smith's Leeds Rhinos along with St. Helens and Bradford Bulls in the same season).

External links

• Tony smith at yesterdayshero.com.au
• Tony Smith at nrlstats.com
• Smith takes up Great Britain job
• LIONS TURN TO RHINOS BOSS SMITH
• RHINO SMITH CONFIRMED AS GB COACH
• Rhinos coach Smith exiting Headingley
• Smith unveiled as GB coach

Preceded by James Lowes	Coach Warrington Wolves 2009-	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Brian Noble 2004-2006	Coach Great Britain/England 2007-2009	Succeeded by Steve Macnamara
Preceded by Daryl Powell	Coach Leeds Rhinos 2004-2007	Succeeded by Brian McClennan
Preceded by John Kear	Coach Huddersfield Giants 2001-2003	Succeeded by Jon Sharp