Vale Bob Smithies

[TheDaBoss]

Vale Bob Smithies
Author
Wests Tigers
Timestamp
Wed 6 Nov 2019, 09:01 AM

Wests Tigers would like to extend their condolences to the family of Robert "Bob" Smithies following his recent passing.

English-born, Smithies joined Balmain from the Illawarra competition in 1969 and quickly became a regular in the side with his energy and attacking class.

Fullback in the Tigers' 1969 Premiership-winning side over South Sydney, Smithies would play 58 games in total for the black and gold — scoring 14 tries.

From there he would move back to England, joining Hull KR in 1972.

Smithies would again find himself winning silverware — this time with the black and whites as Hull KR toppled Wakefield Trinity in the 1974 Yorkshire County Cup.

He would play 55 games in total for Hull KR between 1972 and 1976, finishing his time in rugby league with a strong strike-rate of 36 tries in 113 matches.

The thoughts of all at Wests Tigers are with Bob's family at this time.

 

[jadtiger]

Still remember that grand final like it was yesterday he was an exciting ball runner and a good full back who had played well all season.Sad loss of a man who played differently to every other fullback in the game at that time in that he could not kick so never got involved in kicking duels between opposing fullbacks (No longer a part of the game)

R.I.P Bob Smithies

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

Met him at The Balmain 1969 40th Anniversary function at the SCG - great bloke - I mentioned to him that I recalled that he was a School Teacher back when I was a kid "Yep that was a long time ago", he said. I managed to get the signatures of most 1969 GF players and a few others on a Footy they handed out during the event to each table.

Now that was a night to remember ... if only someone could tell me how I got home afterwards!

VALE Champion!

 

[yeti]

I was a kid in "69, and I loved that team! Smithies was something special - he had to be considering the legend he replaced!
I think this was the best of times for rugby league. Really tribal rivalries for the fans and legends of the game toughing it out for 80 minutes.
No doubt we will be losing many more of the '69ers in the coming years. Thanks for the memories.

 

[eyewondertwo]

he was the pe teacher at northmead high,near parramatta.
watched him coming out of the beach at north gong beach one day and he had his back to the waves.
the waves were dumping.he just took the impact on his back.he was a strong bugger.
a criiicism of his game was that he couldn't kick in general play-but he was a very good player.

 

[cktiger]

One of my favourites - luckily because my jersey from the previous year had a number one on the back for the great Keith Barnes.

 

[supercoach]

When Bob came into FG it was still common practice for full backs to get into kicking duals with the opposition no1. Bob could not kick to save his life, so he ran the ball. He was not the first, but he along with blokes like Les Johns changed the no1 from a defensive position into a attacking position.

RIP Bob and thanks for the memories

 

[Spook]

It was Bob's play in the Final against Manly the previous week that put the Tigers into the 69 Grand Final. With a few minutes to play, Balmain were attacking close to Manly's line. On the final tackle Bob pushed Davy Bolton out of the way at dummy-half, took the ball and sent a thirty yard cut-out pass for George Ruebner to score on the wing. Ruebner had two Manly players in front of him but he wasn't an easy man to stop close to the line and took them across the line with him.

My thoughts and commiserations to Bob's family.

 

[supercoach]

@Spook ....Ruebner went straight over Bob Batty the Manly fullback...but your 100% right Bob set the play up

Ps..your no relation to Spook Spencer.

 

[Rabbitoh]

I'm just here because I'd like to share a few stories about Bob.
I first met Bob as a 12 year old back in 1970. He was dating my older sister. Our family were all mad Rabbitoh supporters but Bob was such a great bloke that he soon won us all over.
When you're a 12 year old kid you soon work out the character of blokes who are dating your older sisters. Most of these blokes didn't want a pesky 12 yr old hangin around but Bob was totally different.
He was a bloody good bloke!

He treated me with genuine interest and care. He would come and watch me play Footy on a weekend when he was free. That was an awesome boost to a young kid as well as the footy team full of impressionable 12 yr olds excited to hear a 1st grade footy player is on the sideline watching us and yelling out instructions.
It was a pretty good way of getting some respect among your footy mates too :smile:

He would take me to games and arrange for me to get into the sheds and meet all the players. In those days the Tigers players used to party on at the old Tigers Leagues club. That's not the one that just closed down, it's the one that preceeded that one.
I can remember one funny night when they got Bob up to sing his version of Old McDonald Had a Farm.
I don't know if you've ever had the pleasure of seeing him in action but it was one of the funniest performances I think I have ever seen. He was hilarious!

Bob always had a million stories and could be the life of the party or he could happily fade into the background and chill. He treated everyone with honour and respect, whoever they were.
He was just a top bloke and bloody good footballer!!
He never received the wraps that he deserved as a footy player I thought. He had great speed and could read a game really well. I can vividly remember him scoring 3 tries at Leichardt one Sunday afternoon against Cronulla I think it was?
(Wow that was when footy was footy!!)

There was media criticism towards him at the time because he supposedly couldn't kick a ball but I can tell you, I saw him kick a ball 70 meters down the field one day and I don't think that that criticism was really warranted. He was a running Fullback with a great swerve and as tough as nails.
Anyway, I just thought I would add this here as it's the least I can do for his memory to share a story among his Footy Fans.
Rest in peace Bob.
May the good Lord find a position for you mate!

 

[newtiger]

When Bob came into FG it was still common practice for full backs to get into kicking duals with the opposition no1. Bob could not kick to save his life, so he ran the ball. He was not the first, but he along with blokes like Les Johns changed the no1 from a defensive position into a attacking position.

RIP Bob and thanks for the memories

I only watched a replay of the 69 GF last Friday, there was no need for Bob to kick the ball they just gave it to Len Kileen who could boot it a country mile.
RIP Bob.

 

[rustycage]

@eyewondertwo There was a day when North Gong had waves???

 

[Balmainbred]

Sad news, condolences to his family. Tigers legend.

 

[eyewondertwo]

@rustycage yep- but it is windy Wollongong and nearly always choppy

 

[TheDaBoss]

@rustycage yep- but it is windy Wollongong and nearly always choppy

north gong waves suck lol

 

[rustycage]

@rustycage yep- but it is windy Wollongong and nearly always choppy

north gong waves suck lol

Woonona on the other hand.....

 

[rustycage]

I wonder how many of the guys from the 69 team are still around. It'd be great to hear a few stories from that era. We never hear of these fellas until they're gone. It's a real shame.

 

[eyewondertwo]

bob smithies was a nice guy.
he shared a teaching position with rod batterham, a union legend, at our high school.
instead of teaching us how to do sommersaults over a vaulting box }which everyone hated] hed turn up for lessons with a football and wed say lets play touch and hed say sure.
bob always backed up on the inside- he played similarly for Balmain.
he was a very likeable teacher.

 

[Russell]

I wonder how many of the guys from the 69 team are still around. It'd be great to hear a few stories from that era. We never hear of these fellas until they're gone. It's a real shame.

They were all at LO for the game against the Sharks and did a lap of honour.

Still quite a few of them still with us.

 

[rustycage]

I wonder how many of the guys from the 69 team are still around. It'd be great to hear a few stories from that era. We never hear of these fellas until they're gone. It's a real shame.

They were all at LO for the game against the Sharks and did a lap of honour.

Still quite a few of them still with us.

Now you mention that, I do recall it. The club could quite easily do interviews of individuals, or the group as a whole As individuals, they could have a weekly video post to the website during the off season. Of course, old Maggies would have some great stories to share as well I'm sure. It'd be a great way to tap into the fibrous tissue of where we came from. For that matter, players from the 70s, 80s could be interviewed as well. I think it'd be great.