In what turned out to be a selection controversy, Smith, a dual rugby international was then left out of the 1948 Kangaroo Tour squad altogether.

After years of dignified silence on the issue Smith, who promptly retired from playing after his non-selection, would claim in the early-mid 1990s that he believed he was left out of the side as the league (NSWRFL) wanted a Mason to captain the side as Smith believed one had captained every Kangaroo touring team since the inaugural Kangaroos in 1908–09.

Wally O'Connell captained the Kangaroos in the First Test Match against Great Britain, the international against Wales, and on six other occasions (Salford, Cumberland, St Helens, Bradford Northern, Swindon, and Yorkshire).

The tourists travelled to Marseille aboard the RMS Maloja, making stops in Adelaide, Perth, Colombo, Mumbai and Aden.

[6][7][8] A scheduled exhibition match in Perth was cancelled when, due to rough seas in the Great Australian Bight, the arrival of the RMS Maloja into Fremantle was delayed.