At 181cm and weighing 112kg, it was probably inevitable that Morpeth Bulls junior and Maitland Pickers front-rower Lincoln Smith would earn the media nickname the Raging Bull.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
But it’s one he will have to share as the Pickers prepare to unleash the Raging Bulls in 2018 with Smith joining former Morpeth Bulls juniors Jacob Sinclair and Dane Tilse (a year in under-12s) in the front-row mix.
A break-out season last year in which he earned Newcastle Rebels and NSW Country selection has been rewarded with a start in the Indigenous All Stars front-row in Saturday’s All Star fixture against the Newcastle All Stars.
Smith, 22, says he is becoming increasingly aware of his indigenous culture and it was a real honour to be selected in the Indigenous All Stars team, although it will mean facing his Pickers, Rebels and NSW Country front-row teammate hooker Jarrod Smith and fellow Pickers forward Brenton Horwood.
“Don’t worry about me hurting Jarrod ahead of the season, I’m just worried about how I’m going to catch him to tackle him,” Smith said.
“We spent a lot of time together travelling to training and playing with the Rebels and I think we both agree it gave us a tremendous confidence boost playing at that level.
“He has always been super quick and dangerous from dummy half, but I think he took his game to a new level last year and is definitely the best if not so close to the best hooker in the competition it doesn’t matter.
“It was such a big year for me. I was surprised when I was named in the initial Rebels squad. I went along to the trials and was wondering to myself what am I doing here.
“I’d been playing first grade for Maitland coming off the bench, but we were struggling and after playing most of my juniors as a centre I had doubts about whether I was up to playing in the forwards in the Newcastle league.
“I expected to be cut every time they reduced the Rebels squad, but then I made the team and we had such success my belief that I could play at his level increased.
“To make the Country team was enormous. I had an ankle ligament injury and was in a moon boot most of the time and struggled to train.
“I was trying to hide it from the coach and selectors and was worried about being discovered and letting the team down.
“It turns out a heap of blokes were doing exactly the same thing.
“The ankle came good and I was able to play. Then I thought what am I doing I’m running out against these giants from Samoa.”
Coalfields players in All Stars clash
Four Maitland Pickers, five Kurri Kurri Bulldogs and four Cessnock Goannas - things are looking up for the Coalfields clubs if the Newcastle RL All Stars is any indication.
Add three players who have withdrawn and Kurri Kurri legend Phil Williams as Newcastle All Stars coach and there are plenty of reasons for Coalfields footy fans to head to Charlestown on Saturday for what has become an annual fixture.
Maitland’s contingent includes Lincoln Smith and Ngangarra Barker (development player) in the Indigenous All Stars and Jarrod Smith and Brenton Horwood, who joined the Newcastle All Stars after the withdrawal of Dane Tilse and Adam Clydesdale.
The five Bulldogs are Jade Porter, Mark Walker and Jarom Haines (Indigenous) and Michael Steele and Tyme Dow Nikau (Newcastle).
Cessnock’s contingent of Alex Mammone, Paul Carter, Marvin Filipo and Kurt Warden are all in the Newcastle team. Star centre Chanel Mata'utia was a late withdrawal.
