DOGS SIGN MAROONS STAR’S SON
Courier Mail
Peter Badel and Travis Meyn
The Canterbury Bulldogs have signed the son of former Canterbury and Queensland great Jason Smith as Phil Gould’s western corridor targeting starts to bear fruit.
Toowoomba young gun Bud Smith will join the Bulldogs at the end of the year after inking a contract to pursue his NRL dream.
Smith Jr is one of the first players to link with Canterbury through the NRL club’s affiliation with the Western Clydesdales.
His father played 62 games for Canterbury in the early 90s in a 209-game first grade career that also included stints at the Eels, Raiders and Cowboys.
Smith, Dally M lock of the year in 1999, also played 16 Origin games for the Maroons and five Tests for Australia.
Clydesdales coach Jason Alchin, a former Bulldogs player, said Bud was a promising player.
“He is an edge forward or lock,” he said.
“He is only 18 but playing in the under-21s every week. He has gone straight up to the Colts. He is a great young kid and prospect.
“Bailey Nash is another 18-year-old that’s been signed by Canberra. I’m upset we didn’t get him. He is a talent.
“Our best young kids are around 15 that will come through the Canterbury pathway. The older ones are already signed by NRL clubs.”
Gould pounced on the Clydesdales’ re-entry to Queensland’s top competition, striking up an agreement with the club in a rugby league rich region.
The Bulldogs have also signed promising Hostplus Cup centre Mileno Fineanganofo from the Clydesdales and are securing some of the best teenagers in the west.
“Mileno has signed for Canterbury and is going down there in November,” Alchin said.
“There’s about a dozen signed by Canterbury who are still at home. We will see how they develop before they go down there.
“Phil Gould is always on the phone asking what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. He is a great influence up here and a great help for us.
“We’ve only been going for 10 months. In about three years we will see how we’re going.”
