Clare Smith and her sister Georgia cleaned up during the Canberra Region Rugby League Award Night.
The Canberra Region Rugby League celebrated the 2025 seniors’ season on August 27, coming together for the annual Les McIntyre Medal Presentation Night.
The Harden Hawks won the 2025 Club Championship for the George Tooke division, but that wasn’t the only achievement recognised for the Club this year. Georgia Smith took out top point scorer, top try scorer and runner up in the best and fairest.
It doesn’t end there as her sister, Clare Smith, was awarded rep player of the year. Their father, Oscar Smith, said he was very proud of the girls for their achievements.
“They have done very well this year and put in a lot of hard work training and keeping themselves fit and showing a real interest in the game. They really like to play their sport and try to do their best. We are very proud of them and it’s a good achievement and the recognition of their ability and how they’ve performed,” he said.
“They train pretty well every day. They have regular training sessions with the team, but they also do extra work by themselves going to the gym and doing rehabilitation and keeping up their fitness and that sort of thing, running, all that stuff.
“They have both been fortunate enough to be selected to play Oztag, and they’ve tried out for rep teams with that and they both have been selected in recent years to play for the Australian 27s team. Georgia travelled to Ireland in 2023 with the team, and she played in the World Cup for Oztag. “That was a very good experience for her. Clare didn’t apply or try out for that team because she was busy with work commitments.
“The following year, Clare tried out as well, and she was selected in the same team to represent Australia in the under 27s, but there was an international tournament up at Coffs Harbour and she participated in that and actually won player’s player a few times there in some of the games.
“In April this year, Clare was also selected to go to the Trans-Tasman test between New Zealand and they played that in Auckland over a three day weekend. They were successful, went through undefeated, played the New Zealand team each time as it was just Australia versus New Zealand.
“That was very good for her, and they have actually both been selected for the Oztag carnival that’s held in Coffs Harbour later this year. Around November.
“Georgia couldn’t go to New Zealand because she was injured. She’d picked up some injuries playing League Tag for Harden. She had a broken finger and an ankle injury.
“They’ve played touch footy in Harden-Murrumburrah that comp for many years as children, as they were growing up and played soccer, started off playing soccer for Harden and they enjoyed that.
“Both Sandra and I, and all the family, would like to wish them good luck and all the best. “Good luck and all the best when they try out for the Oztag team, which is next year they have the World Cup, which is 2026, so they’re going to try out for that as well.
“We wish them all the best, and hopefully they can enjoy the game and be successful, but just do their best.
“They’ve taken on a big job to coach the Harden Murrumburrah Hawkettes in the league tag, following on from Jason Pollard, who’s been a very successful coach for almost a decade and this is their first year coaching. They’ve been lucky enough the team has got to finals and they just need to win a couple more games and they’ll get to the grand final.”
Oscar also wanted to give some attention to Grace Smith, who didn’t win any awards at the Les McIntyre presentation night, but still deserves recognition.
“She plays in the Harden league tag as well and we are also very proud of her and she puts in a huge effort as well. “She’s actually at Uni in Wollongong and she travels and plays when she can, so it’s a bit of a commitment to help out with the team when they’re running short.”
Keep an eye on the Hawkettes as they look to claim yet another Grand Final.
– Jack Murray
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