Keagan Russell-Smith
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Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Keagan Russell-Smith | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 July 2003 Penrith, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 80 kg (12 st 8 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Halfback | |||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 28 March 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Keagan Russell-Smith (born 8 July 2003) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a halfback for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League.
In round 26 2024, Russell-Smith made his NRL debut for Melbourne against the North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Background
[edit]Russell-Smith was educated at St Dominic's College, Penrith, which has a strong rugby league program.[3] His junior rugby league club was Penrith Brothers.[4]
He played junior representative rugby league with the Penrith Panthers, playing 18 matches in the club's S.G. Ball Cup squad from 2021–2022, progressing through to the Jersey Flegg Cup squad in 2022.[5] He was a member of the Panthers 2022 S.G. Ball Cup premiership team, kicking a late conversion from the left sideline to seal the win.[6][7]
Signed by the Melbourne Storm as an academy prospect,[8] he played a further 23 matches for the Storm in the under-21 Jersey Flegg Cup competition across 2023–2024.[5] With 132 points, he was the Jersey Flegg Cup leading point-scorer for the 2023 season,[7] winning the Melbourne Storm's Academy Player of the Year Award.[9][10]
Russell-Smith made his second-tier NSW Cup debut for the North Sydney Bears in round 1 of the 2024 season, later transferring to the Queensland Cup competition to play with the Brisbane Tigers. Both clubs are affiliated with the Melbourne Storm in those competitions.
He has been described as a "special kid" by Melbourne Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, with the 2020 Clive Churchill medalist saying "he's one of those kids who's always asking questions, very coachable, wants to learn, and I generally think that's the tools you need to be a successful footy player."[6]
Playing career
[edit]Russell-Smith made his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm in round 26 of the 2024 season,[11][12] coming off the interchange bench in the Storm's 38–30 loss against the North Queensland Cowboys.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ Code Sports
- ^ Read, Brent; Riccio, David; Carayannis, Michael (24 January 2025). "NRL 2025 Rookie Dossier: The best young players to watch at every club". Code Sports. Sydney, New South Wales: News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ @brothers_pjrlc (27 August 2024). "Brothers would like to congratulate Brothers Junior Keagan Russell-Smith who will make his NRL debut this week" – via Instagram.
- ^ a b "18th Man - Keagan Russell-Smith". 18thman.com. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ a b Chalk, Ethan Lee (6 March 2024). "Young Storm halfback receiving praise from his teammates". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ a b Chalk, Ethan Lee (5 July 2024). ""He's a special kid": Melbourne Storm youngster earns contract upgrade". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "Storm looks to the future with Academy launch". melbournestorm.com.au. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "Coates seals career-best season". melbournestorm.com.au. 3 October 2023. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "2023 POTY: Junior Representative Award Winners". melbournestorm.com.au. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ Chalk, Ethan Lee (27 August 2024). "Melbourne Storm young gun to make NRL debut: Round 26 Team Talk". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ "Team Announcement: Round 26 v Cowboys". melbournestorm.com.au. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ^ Lenehan, Martin (29 August 2024). "King Kyle reigns supreme as Cowboys subdue Storm". NRL.com. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
External links
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