[2] From the Waro-rakau club in the West Coast Rugby League competition, Smith represented both the West Coast and the South Island before being selected to play for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 1979.
[citation needed] Gordon Smith was a substitute in Hull Kingston Rovers' 14–15 defeat by Castleford in the 1984 Challenge Cup Final during the 1984–85 season at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 3 May 1986, in front of a crowd of 82,134.
[citation needed] Gordon Smith played stand-off in Hull Kingston Rovers' 22–18 victory over Castleford in the 1985 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1985–86 season at Headingley, Leeds on Sunday 27 October 1985.
[citation needed] Gordon Smith played stand-off in Hull Kingston Rovers' 8–11 defeat by Wigan in the 1985–86 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1985–86 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 11 January 1986.
[4] Smith rejoined Waro-rakau in the West Coast competition before moving to the Canterbury Rugby League in 1990, becoming the player-coach of Halswell.