By Peter Jessup
When Craig Smith turned up for training with St George/Illawarra at Kogarah Oval in Sydney last Tuesday he was hoping he would be named as a bench player for yesterday's game against Canberra.
Waiting was a message that he had made the Kiwis.
"I couldn't believe it at first, I thought I was out of contention," said the big prop, who has had four weeks on the sideline, suspended for a bad tackle.
"I pleaded guilty to get a week's reduction thinking the team was named after this weekend. When I heard it was to be Tuesday I gave up the ghost."
A chance meeting with coach Frank Endacott at Sydney airport a couple of weeks ago paid off.
"He told me to give him a call closer to the test. I did, and told him I'd been training hard."
Smith said the black jersey was a huge lure.
"One of my goals at the start of the year was to cement a rep spot. They've shown some faith in me - now I'm going to go and repay it and try and earn a starting spot."
St George/Illawarra coach David Waite has plenty of faith in Smith's ability to step up after his time out, later that Tuesday putting him straight into the starting lineup for the Canberra confrontation.
"I was worried about making the side at all. My absence wasn't because of lack of form, it was lack of discipline, so I'm glad they recognised that. It turned out to be a brilliant day."
The 28-year-old is obviously part of Endacott's plans through to the World Cup, his hard hitting on defence, smashing runs and quick play-the-balls just the sort of tough centre the Kiwis need to intimidate Australia.
A body-on-the-line type, Smith said the tourists to England were all told by the coach that they were in his long-term planning.
"It's unfortunate we're missing a couple but it's a pretty competent team," he said, and he has no worries about newcomers like centre David Kidwell or fellow bench player Richard Swain having what it takes.
Likewise he feels the Paul brothers will step off the plane and show everyone how professional and able they are.
Smith discounts talk of trouble in the St George/Illawarra marriage. Training is split 50/50 between Wollongong and Kogarah, the Illawarra crew car pooling to Sydney.
He likes the laidback life out of town, surf down the hill, a horse in a paddock up the road.
It is a formula that worked for the new club yesterday as they thrashed Canberra 44-2.
"We're still learning each other's play but now we've had a couple of wins there's confidence coming in, some more improvement and if we keep heading in the same direction we'll be around at finals time."
Rugby League: Black jersey fires up Smith
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.