New Zealand rugby league has lost another star of its celebrated grand slam-winning 1971 side with the passing of Kiwi #448 Garry Smith.
Smith, who died in Nelson at the age of 84, was a constant in the New Zealand team’s unprecedented run of victories over Australia, Great Britain and France in that golden season.
After pounding the vaunted Kangaroos 24-3 on a swampy Carlaw Park in Auckland in late June, the Kiwis completed back-to-back series wins over Great Britain and France on their northern hemisphere tour later in the year.
Something of an unsung hero, Smith was in the second row for all seven Tests as the Kiwis clinched success against Great Britain with 18-13 and 17-14 triumphs in the first two Tests followed by 27-11 and 24-2 successes in the opening two clashes against France. A 3-3 draw in the third Test would later prove to be Smith’s 16th and last international.
He was one of just seven forwards used in the Tests on tour, the others being Henry Tatana, Jim Fisher, Doug Gailey, Robert Orchard, John Greengrass and Tony Kriletich.
Smith started his rugby league career with Runanga on the West Coast before moving to Wellington in the mid-1960s from where he linked up with the Marist club and played for Wellington. It was as a Wellington player that he made his Test debut in a two-match home series against Great Britain in 1966.
He went on to play at the 1968 and 1970 World Cup tournaments before making such a vital contribution in the all-conquering 1971 season. Smith later coached Marist and the Kapiti Bears.
He is the 15th member of the 1971 touring Kiwi squad to pass away following the loss of revered captain Roy Christian last year.
The 11 survivors are Mocky Brereton (78), Bernie Lowther (75), Dave Sorensen (76), Dennis Williams (72), Ken Stirling (76), Graeme Cooksley (76), Don Mann (83), Jim Fisher (84), John Greengrass (78), Ray Williams (79) and Murray Eade (77).
1971 Kiwis | RIP
Henry Tatana (#455) aged 53 in 1998
Bill Burgoyne (#487) aged 52 in 1999
Doug Gailey (#476) aged 59 in 2007
Bob McGuinn (#481) aged 64 in 2012
Tony Kriletich (#459) aged 72 in 2016
Phil Orchard (#475) aged 70 in 2018
John O'Sullivan (#493) aged 68 in 2018
Bill Deacon (#445) aged 75 in 2019
Mike McClennan (#488) aged 75 in 2019
Robert Orchard (#443) aged 74 in 2020
John Whittaker (#485) aged 70 in 2020
Shane Dowsett (#495) aged 74 in 2021
Gary Woollard (#420) aged 79 in 2021
Roy Christian (#435) aged 81 in 2024
Garry Smith (#448) aged 84 in 2025
