After a career marked by persistent injuries, former rugby league player Harley Smith-Shields has pivoted to a new path as a fitness coach. The 25-year-old, who played 20 NRL games for the Canberra Raiders and Gold Coast Titans, now runs his own coaching business called 'A Block,' aiming to help clients achieve their fitness goals through functional movement and improved mobility.
Smith-Shields endured a series of significant injuries throughout his professional career, including an ACL tear in early 2022, a torn pec, and hamstring issues, alongside recurring lower back problems. He described the constant rehabilitation as taking a toll, stating it was a near-constant aspect of his seasons since his 2020 debut. The most disheartening injury, he noted, was the ACL tear, which felt like having his hard work erased.
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At one point, Smith-Shields experienced severe back issues that required multiple epidural procedures and daily doses of anti-inflammatory medication. He recounted being unable to get out of bed, sleep, or walk without the medication, highlighting the extreme measures he took to continue playing. The physical and mental challenges of his injury struggles ultimately led to his decision to step away from the NRL at the end of the 2025 season.
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His coaching venture, co-founded with current Parramatta Eels player Bailey Simonsson, focuses on teaching correct movement patterns tailored to individual goals. Smith-Shields believes that a smarter, more functional training approach, similar to his current methods, could have potentially prevented some of his past injuries. 'A Block is all about getting people more functional, more mobile and more capacity,' he said.
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The business also includes a rugby league academy designed to help young players prepare for a professional career. Despite the success of his new venture, Smith-Shields has not entirely closed the door on a return to the NRL, suggesting he feels he has "unproven potential."
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