AyiosYiorgos
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UNSUNG utility player Jason Smith has been given one of the biggest wraps of his career after Darren Lockyer rated him one of the best he played with.
Smith, who played 15 Tests and 16 State of Origin games in a 17-year first grade career featuring four Australian clubs, was the surprise choice in the 17-man squad Lockyer named as his Australian Dream Team from his 14 years of international football.
"People forget him because he was not a decorated Test player but he was one of the smartest forwards I had played with," Lockyer said in the program for his final Test on home soil, Australia's 42-6 thrashing of New Zealand in Newcastle.
"He didn't have the athleticism of a Brad Fittler but had the vision with the ball. He used to like to drink and smoke - probably still does - but that is because he's pretty relaxed about everything.
"I have never seen a guy go to the line so slowly but still be able to draw three defenders in. He just had that knack with the ball."
Lockyer reserved special praise for his defensive chaperone Tonie Carroll, who he called "the best tackler and hitter I have seen".
"I used to play a lot outside of him and a lot of times I saw blokes coming towards me but then they'd change direction when they spotted him because he used to line them up."
Lockyer included great friend Wendell Sailor on the wing, saying his confidence put teammates at ease, and said fellow Queenslander Greg Inglis was the most natural player he had played with.
Glenn Lazarus and Shane Webcke were predictable choices as props.
Darren Lockyer's Dream Team:
1 Billy Slater
2 Wendell Sailor
3 Steve Renouf
4 Justin Hodges
5 Greg Inglis
6 Andrew Johns
7 Allan Langer
8 Glenn Lazarus
9 Cameron Smith
10 Shane Webcke
11 Gorden Tallis
12 Tonie Carroll
13 Brad Thorn
14 Danny Buderus
15 Johnathan Thurston
16 Petero Civoniceva
17 Jason Smith
Smith, who played 15 Tests and 16 State of Origin games in a 17-year first grade career featuring four Australian clubs, was the surprise choice in the 17-man squad Lockyer named as his Australian Dream Team from his 14 years of international football.
"People forget him because he was not a decorated Test player but he was one of the smartest forwards I had played with," Lockyer said in the program for his final Test on home soil, Australia's 42-6 thrashing of New Zealand in Newcastle.
"He didn't have the athleticism of a Brad Fittler but had the vision with the ball. He used to like to drink and smoke - probably still does - but that is because he's pretty relaxed about everything.
"I have never seen a guy go to the line so slowly but still be able to draw three defenders in. He just had that knack with the ball."
Lockyer reserved special praise for his defensive chaperone Tonie Carroll, who he called "the best tackler and hitter I have seen".
"I used to play a lot outside of him and a lot of times I saw blokes coming towards me but then they'd change direction when they spotted him because he used to line them up."
Lockyer included great friend Wendell Sailor on the wing, saying his confidence put teammates at ease, and said fellow Queenslander Greg Inglis was the most natural player he had played with.
Glenn Lazarus and Shane Webcke were predictable choices as props.
Darren Lockyer's Dream Team:
1 Billy Slater
2 Wendell Sailor
3 Steve Renouf
4 Justin Hodges
5 Greg Inglis
6 Andrew Johns
7 Allan Langer
8 Glenn Lazarus
9 Cameron Smith
10 Shane Webcke
11 Gorden Tallis
12 Tonie Carroll
13 Brad Thorn
14 Danny Buderus
15 Johnathan Thurston
16 Petero Civoniceva
17 Jason Smith
