Rugby star Zoe Smith is the first female to play 100 matches for Nelson Bay Gropers

SHOAL Bay rugby prodigy Zoe Smith has etched her name in the Nelson Bay Junior Rugby Club record books.

The outstanding NSW Waratahs Under 16s representative flanker has become the first female Gropers junior to chalk up 100 matches for the club in a significant milestone.

Fifteen-year-old Zoe was recognised for her “century achievement” last weekend when presented with an historic pewter mug by Port Stephens MP Kate Washington at the club’s Presentation Day at the Elizabeth Waring clubrooms in Nelson Bay.

It is one of a string of honours earned by the Hunter Sports High Year 9 student, who has also represented NSW Combined High Schools in the touch football arena.

The fearless flanker spent six seasons as the only girl player with the Gropers’ junior boys teams from Under 8s where she held her own as a tough tackling forward.

So impressive was Zoe in those formative years that she earned selection in the NSW Primary Schools Under 12s boys rugby squad that finished with a top four ranking at the 2022 championships in Wagga.

A feature of Zoe’s play was her copybook defence, ball skills and high work rate – traits she has carried into the girls rugby ranks over the past three seasons.

Nelson Bay Junior Rugby Club secretary Matt Findlay told News Of The Area that the super-talented Smith was a “great role model for the Gropers’ budding female juniors”.

“Zoe is an ornament to our club and is widely respected both on and off the rugby field,” quipped Matt.

“She has achieved so much at a young age and has a bright future ahead of her in women’s rugby and as a touch football middle,” he exclaimed.

The versatile schoolgirl juggled her rugby commitments in 2025 by playing her first season of women’s tackle rugby league with the Souths Lions club in the Hunter Junior League competition.

Showing her power, stamina and turn of speed as a strong running prop forward and winger, Zoe helped the undefeated Lions claim the HJRL Womens Tackle Under 16 Division One premiership with a 26-22 Grand Final victory over the Raymond Terrace Roosters at Keith Barry Oval.

The emerging flanker has also represented Hunter Wildfires and NSW Country these past two seasons and next month travels to Wagga with the Under 16 NSW Waratahs for development matches against the ACT Brumbies.

Two of the biggest influences on Zoe’s rugby career to date have been her junior coaches Lachlan Hancock and Chad O’Toole.

Both have moulded her into a forward dynamo with exceptional skills and watched in awe as she constantly upstaged her male counterparts in the junior boys ranks.

Zoe is also entrenched in the NSW Sports High School Rugby Sevens squad plus the All Schools, Hunter Hornets and Nelson Bay representative touch football teams and will play in the Under 20s division at this year’s NSW State Cup at Port Macquarie.

The teen warrior also looks up to her talented 18 year old brother Jed, a current Sydney University flanker, who was an integral part of the champion Gropers boys team that won eight consecutive Hunter Junior premiership titles.

Zoe dreams of one day pulling on a Wallaroos jumper and if sheer passion and skill is any guide then this powerhouse flanker is well on the way to realising that goal.

By Chris KARAS