Billy Smith may not be a flashy freak like teammates Mark Nawaqanitawase and Robert Toia, but the Roosters centre is satisfied with being “boring” if it can take his side to the grand final.

Smith, 26, has endured a wretched run of injuries throughout his career which started in 2019 when the Roosters won the second of their consecutive grand finals.

Superstars Latrell Mitchell and Joseph Manu were the centres in the team that won the premiership that year, while Nawaqanitawase and Toia have formed a potent partnership on the right edge where behind-the-back flick passes are the norm.

And while Smith can turn it on when he needs to, the local junior is happy to go under the radar doing the tough stuff that doesn’t make the highlight reels.

“I know the player I am. I’m not a flashy freak like ‘Marky’ or ‘Bobby’ (Toia) or any of that, but I pride myself on the work I do out of the back field,” he said.

“When given the opportunity to defend, I take great pride in that, and I know the club values it. It might not be the headline in the papers, but I know it means a lot to the club, and it means a lot to me.

“I’m going to continue being me, continue doing my job, and if that means being boring and carrying it 15 times out of the back field and defending well, then that’s my role.”

Smith has kept his spot at left centre for Friday’s preliminary final against the Dolphins even though most pundits assumed Hugo Savala would shift there with Sam Walker back in the side.

“It was without a doubt. Billy’s our left centre. He always has been,” coach Trent Robinson said.

“And I know there’s been some discussion, but there hasn’t been discussion inside these walls around that. We know the value that Hugo can play, and as I said he will do that, but Billy’s our definite left centre.”

Smith ran for 138 metres and broke six tackles in last week’s win over the Sharks, but it was his sublime stop on Braydon Trindall with 20 minutes to go that won his side the game.

Cronulla had dominated possession and would have closed to within eight points, only for Smith to dislodge the ball as Trindall went to score.

“It’s just doing whatever it takes,” he said, with Smith to go up against Dolphins star Jack Bostock.

“I think this time of year, if you’re to win big football games like finals, preliminary finals, grand finals, you have to come up with those sort of plays, and I was glad I could put myself in the position to do so.

“I’ll never stop working and I’ll never stop moving until the play stops. I was fortunate to put myself in the position to just dislodge the ball there.

“I think just being really clear on who you are as a person and as a footy player (helps with my style of play).

“I’m getting a little bit older now, so I’ve figured out who I am as a player. I’m a down-and-out centre, and if I need to step up in attack and do a flick pass or do something needed, I know I can do that.

“But I’m also a hardworking centre who’s going to work really hard in defence and attack, try to outwork my opposite number, and win the effort area battle. I think that’s served me pretty well.

“I stand up if I need to deliver in a moment, but I don’t search for it or go out of my way to create it. I do what’s within the system and the team, and I try to be me as best as possible.”