TONIGHT'S World Club Series clash will pit Tony Smith against a head coach he once called his teammate.

Smith, who played for both St George and Illawarra before their merger, spent the 1991 season playing alongside Dragons boss Paul McGregor for the Steelers.

“He’s a good bloke, Mary – that’s his nickname,” said former half back Smith. “Terrific player he was when we played together, super.

“He went on to become a State of Origin and Australian player and he was class. I’d been at the club a little bit longer than Paul when he joined, but we are similar ages. We saw from the start that he was going to be class.

“He’s recent to coaching and went down the physical route for a fair amount of his career. He was a conditioner and made the conversion over to be a coach in the last couple of years.

“He’s taken over the role at one of the biggest clubs in the world in rugby league, St George.

“They’re a great club and I was happy to be part of that great club as well. Both my clubs merged into one, St George and Illawarra, to become St George Illawarra.

“I had six years with Illawarra and then four years at St George. So it was a big part of my life, which is a bit of a side issue and hasn’t been brought up with the players.

“But on a personal basis, it’s a big game for this coach.”