Born in Auckland, Smalley began playing rugby league as a teenager for the Manukau Rovers.
[1] In 2017, while playing for the Otahuhu Leopards, Smalley was selected in the New Zealand squad for the 2017 Women's Rugby League World Cup.
[2] On 2 December 2017, she started at prop in New Zealand's 16–23 final loss to Australia.
On 1 August 2018, Smalley was announced as a member of the New Zealand Warriors NRL Women's Premiership team.
[3] In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL Women's season, she made her debut for the Warriors in a 10–4 win over the Sydney Roosters.