Fans vote Wests’ Brydon Smith as reserve-grade player of the season

The fans were asked who they thought was the best Rugby League Mackay and District reserve-grader this season, and now they’ve spoken. Discover the winner’s story.

Wests' Brydon Smith lines up a conversion. Picture: Supplied.

The fans have spoken, and Wests’ premiership-winning outside back Brydon Smith has been voted Rugby League Mackay and District’s best reserve-grader for 2023.

Smith took home a resounding 31 per cent of the online vote, followed by Sarina’s Ewan Tass who had 17 per cent. Smith’s Wests teammate Jayden Rodwell finished third with 13 per cent.

You can find the full list of results and nominees here.

It should come as no surprise that Smith took home the honour, given his gargantuan season points tally of 164 placed him more than 30 clear of the next best player across A-grade, reserve-grade, and the U20s.

He also notched 10 tries for the season.

Club president Robert Downey couldn’t speak highly enough of Smith, who has played at Wests since his junior days.

“He’s a really strong leader on and off the field, good organiser, good talker,” Downey said.

“He took up the responsibility of kicking goals for the team, he’s the first one at kicking goals, last one to leave at the end. … he’s a really good tryscorer, he’s fast, well-positioned, runs a good line, and knows his angles.

Brydon Smith attempts a conversion for Wests. Given his pointscoring prowess, you'd expect he slotted it. Picture: Supplied.

“As well as being a good communicator with his halves to make sure he gets the ball in the right positions.”

Despite the success the 25-year-old had this season, Downey insists it wasn’t a breakout year, rather a continuation of prolonged dominance at reserve-grade level.

He said Smith could easily have played A-grade for years if not for the quality the club possesses in its outside backs.

“For the last three years he’s probably been the best reserve-grader in Mackay, one of the best in our club,” Downey reflected.

“He’s probably played 20 games over the four years for A-grade, he’s there or thereabouts.

“I think he’ll look to make that step up next year off the back of this season and the previous three or four.”

While Smith has made his presence felt on the field, he’s also had a significant impact off it.

“He’s good in the community, a real role model,” Downey said.

“He’s involved with the juniors, he helps coach a side, he went and gave the junior’s leading pointscorer their trophy, he’s really big in that sort of thing.

“He nurtures our upcoming talent as well as making the club a very community-orientated place.”