2024 was a big year for 25-year-old Panthers prop Lindsay Smith.
He played in all 27 games for his side including winning his second Grand Final and debuting for Australia against Tonga in the Pacific Championships.
Reflecting on the massive end to his year, Smith said representing his community and family is something he is very proud of.
“It was obviously pretty special to represent the country and also represent my family and everything they’ve done for me,” Smith told Extra Time before leaving for Las Vegas. “It was definitely a special moment, one that I’ll cherish forever, and I’ll never forget… When you get to play on that level you get to reflect on where you’ve come from and who you’ve come from as well. Representing where I’m from in my junior club of St Marys is pretty special.”
Despite the accolades of last year, Smith has his sights set on making 2025 the best year of his career, including putting his hand up for the starting spot left by the departing James Fisher-Harris.
“Obviously, everyone wants to start, and I’ll put my hand up no matter where Iv wants me,” Smith said.
“There are differences between the bench role and the starting role but that’s sort of the progression you’ve got to take, and I’ll be putting up my hand to Ivan to play wherever he wants me.
“I’ll try to be the best for my team.”
It was set to be a two-way battle for the starting spot between Smith and young gun Liam Henry but as Henry continues his recovery from off-season surgery, Smith has been given the greenlight to run out in the starting side in Sunday’s game in Sin City.
Smith did run out as part of the starting line-up a few times for the Panthers last year but recognises it is a different game compared to the bench role.
“When you are starting, it’s just a lot faster and there is a little bit more sting in the game, and you’ve got to try to bring that aggression in the first five or 10 minutes and that is something that Mos (Moses Leota) and Fish (Fisher-Harris) have done so well over so many years,” Smith said.
“There is a little bit of difference when you are coming off the bench [because] there’s a bit of fatigue in the game and there isn’t when you are starting because everyone is fresh.
“It’s definitely a challenge but I’ll be ready for it if Iv calls upon me.”
After the high of representing his country, another goal Smith wants to achieve this year is pulling on the sky-blue jumper and representing NSW.
“Playing State of Origin has been a big dream for myself ever since I was a kid,” Smith revealed.
“There is always… [the want for] progression but I guess for me it is about coming back to the pre-season here and putting my work in day in and day out and then hopefully throughout the season just playing my best footy for the team and just see what happens from there.”
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.