William John Smith (born 12 July 1942 in Fremantle, Western Australia) is an Australian former rugby league footballer.
He was the leading halfback in Australian rugby league during the late 1960s, and a keystone of the latter part of the St. George Dragons' eleven consecutive premiership victories between 1956 and 1966.
Born in Fremantle, Western Australia, the son of a Scottish fisherman, Smith grew up in Mortdale, New South Wales in the St George area.
After a few games in 1961 and 1962 he established a permanent place in 1963 when Reg Gasnier's first and second-choice partners (Johnny Riley and Dave Brown) were both forced out by injury.
Smith's abilities and his uncanny partnership with Graeme Langlands are credited with enabling the club to remain competitive through to the mid seventies.
He was capable of challenging any opponent head-on on the field, and his organising and kicking skills were a vital part of St. George's success during his career.
Legendary rugby league hardman John Sattler is quoted as follows in the Writer reference: People talk about the enforcers in the game, but Langlands and his mate Smithy were the toughest of the tough because they could play with injury – arm hanging off, crook leg, strap 'em up and send 'em out – and they could perform.
In 1967 Smith won the Harry Sunderland Medal again (this time for his performance against New Zealand and was an automatic selection for the Kangaroo tour later that year.
He was however chosen in Australia's World cup squad in 1968, toured New Zealand in 1969 and was picked against Great Britain in 1970 for all three Tests of the domestic Ashes series.
It was thought in 1979 that Smith would be likely to succeed Provan, his former captain, mentor and long-time friend, as Cronulla first-grade coach, but he resigned controversially after a preliminary semi-final thrashing by Parramatta.