Jack Smith was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in eleven matches in the 1938 tour of Australia and 1939 aborted tour of England. He predominantly played at fullback but also on the wing and occasionally at centre and standoff. In the process he became the 265th player to represent New Zealand.
He also represented Auckland, the North Island, Auckland Pākehā, and played for several rugby teams in the Middle East while serving in World War 2. He was a member of the North Shore Albions club (also named Devonport United). His brother was Dick Smith, the New Zealand rugby league representative in 1932, they were both the nephews of the well known sportsman of the 1890s–1910s George Smith.
Early life Jack Smith was born Charles Ernest Smith but became known as Jack. He was born on 1 February 1918, to Walton Smith (1883-1938) and Clara Evelyn Smith (née Green) (1890-). He had two older brothers named Richard Frederick Smith (1909-1931), and Walton Victor Roy Smith (1911-1964), though Walton was better known as Dick Smith. Dick had also played for New Zealand in 1932 in three tests against England. Their uncle (Walton's brother) was George Smith, the famous sportsman who represented New Zealand in rugby union, rugby league, as well as being a champion runner.
Playing career North Shore Albions (Devonport United) rugby league Juniors (1935–36) Jack Smith began playing for North Shore Albions, known as Devonport United at the time, in the mid 1930s. At the start of the 1936 season at their annual meeting he was presented with a medal for being the best player in their seventh grade team for 1935. He was still attending Takapuna Grammar School at the time and playing for their first fifteen rugby side. On July 24 they traveled to Whangārei to play Whangarei High School at Kensington Oval with Smith playing at fullback. Whangarei won easily 20-9. While for his North Shore rugby league side he played in their third grade team in 1936 and won a trophy for his play for them which was presented at the 1937 annual meeting.
1937 season Jack Smith made his senior debut at the start of the 1937 season in the Auckland Rugby League competition. He went on to play 19 matches, scoring 7 tries and kicking 39 goals. Smith was named at centre, with Len Scott outside him on the wing and Verdun Scott on the other wing for their preliminary round match against Newton Rangers on April 17. In a 34-8 win Smith was “outstanding” and an “enterprising centre”. The New Zealand Herald wrote that “J. Smith is a promoted player, likely to be given a chance. He has speed and is clever on attack”. On April 24 they beat Marist Old Boys 24-15 with Smith kicking a conversion and three penalties. Len Scott scored a try after “a great piece of work by Smith” who gave Scott good support throughout the match, playing “a good game at centre”. The Herald wrote a short piece about him during the week headed “Out Standing Player” which said “a player who caught the eye for North Shore against Marist in the principal attraction last Saturday was J. Smith, the centre three-quarter. He showed ability above the average, making clever openings and running his supports into good positions. Smith is also a fine place-kick”.
In North Shore’s first Fox Memorial Shield game of the season Smith kicked 2 conversions and a penalty in a 19-12 loss to Manukau. He repeated the feat a week later on May 8 when North Shore beat Richmond Rovers 15-13 in the feature match at Carlaw Park. In a round 3 win over Marist Old Boys by 6 points to 5, Smith scored one of their tries. The Auckland Star said that Smith along with the other inside backs showed “dash and daring”. Then against Ponsonby he kicked three penalties in an 8-8 draw with the newspaper saying that he “had his kicking boots on with a vengeance”. The Herald wrote that “the value of a good place-kick to a team was well exemplified in the North Shore-Ponsonby match when J. Smith, the North Shore centre, kicked three excellent penalty goals”. Then two weeks later in Round 6 Smith scored all nine of North Shore’s points in a 10-9 loss to City Rovers. His points came through a try, a conversion, and two penalties. He played at five eighths and “was the best of the backs” for North Shore. The Auckland Star said “Smith was the outstanding back”. As well as kicking a “fine goal” he “narrowly missed another, which would have given North Shore the game”. He then moved back to the centre position for North Shore’s 13-0 win over Newton Rangers on June 12. He kicked a conversion and a penalty with it written that “in Smith, the Shore team have a very promising centre and a goal kicker”. He was “the best of the North Shore backs, being prominent on attack”. North Shore had a break with representative matches on and travelled to Huntly to play the local side on June 19 with North Shore winning 23-5.
After senior games resumed in Auckland on July 3 Smith kicked a lone conversion in a heavy 31-11 loss to Manukau at Carlaw Park. North Shore then lost again, to Richmond 13-11 though Smith “at five eighths got the try of the match with a great run from halfway, and in addition landed two penalty goals”. Smith and Zane were singled out for their outstanding defence which kept Noel Bickerton and Ted Mincham in check. Smith “caught Mincham, centre, in possession” on many occasions. During the game he “gathered in the loose and cleverly beat MIncham and Bickerton and after a fast run for 40 yards gave Furnell a perfect “dummy” to score near the posts”. In a 9-7 win over City on July 17 “Smith and V. Scott appeared to be the best”. He missed a try when he “made a nice dash and had [Cyril] Wiberg beaten for pace but V. Scott collided with Smith in attempting a scissors pass”. The Herald said that Smith and Zane were the best of their backs. Smith missed their next match with Marist after suffering from a “poisoned hand” and was still not listed in their side for their July 31 match against Newton with North Shore losing both games.
He returned to play on August 21 against Ponsonby in a 23-9 loss. He kicked a conversion and two penalties and was said to be “the best of the backs, with fine all round play, and as a place kick he is about the most reliable club man in Auckland”. Then playing at centre in a high scoring loss to Mount Albert United by 38 to 22 Smith scored a try and kicked 7 goals. He “gave a fine all-round display”. The Herald wrote that “Smith had a successful day, securing many points for North Shore from place kicks and also scoring a good try”.
With the championship now finished North Shore played Ponsonby in round 1 of the Roope Rooster and were eliminated following a 23-21 loss. Smith kicked 5 goals and the Star wrote “the fine all-round play of Smith in the centre was of great value to his side…”. North Shore now moved into the Phelan Shield competition and Smith scored 2 tries and kicked 3 more goals in a 15-14 win against Richmond. He reportedly “topped his 100 points for the season” in the match. His “good goal kicking… gave North Shore the advantage”. Then in the semi final “a feature of the game was the splendid play of J. Smith, the North Shore centre. Late in the second half Manukau played with renewed vigour and looked likely to turn the tables. Smith however, scored a fine try and placed the result beyond doubt”. North Shore went on to win the Phelan Shield final 22-18 against Mount Albert on October 2. Smith kicked two goals including a go ahead penalty towards the end of the game. He played centre and “was seen at his best”. The Herald said that Smith at centre was “outstanding” and he “figured in most of the back movements and gave his best display to date” though he “had a day off at goal kicking”. In a summary of the year the Herald wrote that Smith had shown “good form” at centre three-quarter during the year. It was also announced that E Bennett of Takapuna was donating a trophy to present to Jack Smith for his point scoring feats for the season where he was said to have scored 132 points in all games. He was only beaten by John Anderson of Marist who had scored 148. It had been very rare for players to score more than 100 points in club matches in Auckland to this point and rarer still for two players to achieve the feat.
Auckland Selection Smith’s achievements for the season saw him chosen in the 17 player Auckland squad to train to play against New Zealand Māori on October 9. When the squad was reduced to 15 he was named as one of the backs. The Auckland (Pākehā) team was beaten 43-21 by the Māori side. During the afternoon Smith was presented with his trophy along with Anderson with a photograph recording the moment published in the New Zealand Herald.
1938 season The 1938 season saw Jack Smith make his test debut for New Zealand. He only played ten matches for North Shore as he spent two months touring Australia with the New Zealand side in the middle part of the season. In those ten matches he did not score a try but did kick 39 goals. He was selected to play for Auckland in one match, and also made the North Island side for their inter-island match.