Code convert in a league of his own

Leading Aircraftman Mathew Smith takes on the tackle-bags as Canberra Raiders coach Matt Elliott looks on. Photo by Michael Weaver

By Ben Caddaye

FOR a bloke who spent most of his junior days playing Australian rules, Leading Aircraftman Mathew Smith has made an impressive impact in a rival code in a short space of time.

LAC Smith, an Airfield Defence Guard at RAAF Base Amberley, started playing rugby league seriously two years ago.

Now he’s the sole Air Force representative in the Combined Australian Services Rugby League (CASRL) starting 13 after gaining selection on the back of an impressive showing at the ADF national titles in Canberra.

While Air Force was routed in the tournament, LAC Smith shone in the second row.

And while he felt he had a solid carnival, he was a little shocked at making it into the combined side in his first year playing rugby league in the ADF.

“Yeah, I was surprised. I thought I was playing all right but I never expected to make the side,” LAC Smith said.

Fellow Air Force teammates, Leading Aircraftman Brad Woodward and Corporal Anthony Piggott, were selected in the squad of 22, which was dominated by players from the tournament-winning Army side.

Growing up in Victoria, LAC Smith played Australian rules until he was 16 and was regarded as a talented defender.
When he moved to Cairns – and into league territory – he gave the foreign code a try, even though he had a limited knowledge of the rules.

“I found it a lot more physical. I was a lot sorer after games,” he recalled.
Differences aside, LAC Smith said the agility and fitness he’d acquired on the Aussie rules paddock made his transition to rugby league a little easier.

He put on some weight, slotted into the forward pack and took to the code like a duck to water.
League is certainly his first love now and LAC Smith plans to play for Brisbane Wests in the local competition this winter.

He has no illusions as to how hard that will be, after getting a taste of what first-grade players go through during a training session with the Canberra Raiders after the ADF carnival.

Players selected in the CASRL side were invited to attend the 45-minute session, where they had the chance to match it with some of the Raiders’ best in bike riding, rowing and tackle-bag exercises.

“It was hard to complete and I was exhausted afterwards,” he said.

Although somewhat disappointed with Air Force’s showing in Canberra, where it lost both of its games and conceded 64 points, LAC Smith acknowledged the side had been weakened by operational commitments and would bounce back. “Next year I think we’ll give it a much better go.”

For more information on rugby league within the Air Force, e-mail Air Force coach Sergeant A.J. Smith at aaron.smith@defence.gov.au

ADF national title results and photos

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