Rugby League: How Saint Smith could have become a Toffee

Oct 13 2007

Had his other career taken off, St Helens scrum-half Matty Smith would have been used to running out at Old Trafford, venue for tonight’s Grand Final, even if it was in an Everton jersey.

The 20-year-old’s round-ball career came to an end five years ago but football’s loss quickly became rugby league’s gain and he now stands on the brink of an appearance in the most important match of the Super League season.

Smith has been bracketed with Sean Long for the scrum-half role in St Helens’ defence of their title in tonight’s showdown with Leeds at the Theatre of Dreams.

As a Saints fan, part of Smith wants Long to play but, if he gets the nod, he will jump at the chance to appear on the biggest stage of all.

“If you are a Saints fan, you obviously want Longy playing but, as a player, I’d love to get the chance to play on the big stage and hopefully do well,” said Smith.

Smith has been an understudy to the injury-hit former Great Britain scrum-half 10 times this season and has made no secret that he wants to fill Long’s boots when he eventually retires.

The youngster made a big impression in his side’s 10-8 victory over the Rhinos in the semi-final qualifier a fortnight ago, especially when he maintained his nerve to kick the match-winning penalty.

As a striker, penalties were his forte in football, although he joked: “I didn’t score many goals.”

Old Trafford eluded him during his spell in football and Smith had to be satisfied with playing matches for Everton juniors at United’s training ground at Carrington until it all came to an abrupt halt.

“I signed for Everton at under-12s and played a couple of years until under 14 or 15 when they released me,” he recalled.

“I went back playing amateur for Pilkingtons but I wasn’t really enjoying it enough. I tried my hand at rugby and it led from there.

“I started playing for Blackbrook which had a great team and I got picked up for the town team and gradually got better and better.”

Smith, who has completed a bricklayers’ apprenticeship, represented England Under-18s against France earlier this year and St Helens demonstrated their faith in him by giving him a new two-year contract.

The youngster could get a chance to start repaying that faith at Old Trafford tonight.