Selection Controversy
It seemed a mere formality that Smith would be chosen to lead the team of young inexperienced Kangaroos on the end of year 1948 Tour of England but on the night the side was announced Smith was inexplicably left out of the party.
It was unfathomable that the current Australian captain/coach having just won a Test would not be good enough to be in selected in the touring squad of 28. There was press uproar at the time and lobbying for a change by Newtown. Some of those involved at the time when interviewd many years later by sporting journalists still spoke bitterly of the travesty.
In 1998 Rugby League historian Sean Fagan interviewed Smith who confirmed his suspicion that his Catholicism was the cause of the problem. Several members of the selection panel were Masons and at that time the touring captain often needed to speak at Northern English clubs with Masonic links. The 1948 Kangaroos failed to win a Test in England.
After football Len Smith became a respected sportswriter and was involved in the trotting industry.
Read more about this topic: Len Smith
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