Rugby League: Craig Smith tells of tough weeks

By PETER JESSUP

The past few weeks have been gut-wrenching for Kiwi prop Craig Smith.

What he thought was a secure future has been blown out of the water by successive suspensions.

The big prop is off contract after three seasons with the St George Illawarra Dragons. Until round three this year, he had every reason to believe he would see out his playing career with the club.

But he was suspended for raising his knee into the tackle against the Storm and so began a drama that has shattered his security.

"It's been a long few weeks," Smith said in Wollongong. "Football is a fickle working environment."

The 29-year-old has been training "very, very hard" with his team, but will not be playing the Warriors at Wollongong on Sunday. Instead, he waits for a start against Canberra on July 7. It will be his only chance to force his way into the Kiwi test side to play Australia in Wellington on July 13.

"It's tough all right. The players who Gary [coach Freeman] picked for France did the job and have continued to do the job. All I can do is press my claims in the match against Canberra and put pressure on Gary to look at me.

"And I thought I was going well, too."

He was - until the first knee-lifting ban. He was put out for a week and missed the loss to the Warriors at Ericsson, although he remained skipper.

He was made sole-charge this season after co-captain Nathan Brown suffered a neck injury that ended his career.

Then came a second ban, for two weeks, for the same offence.

Smith and club officials met the NRL to put his case and find out what had to be done to clear his action.

Smith hopes it is resolved, "for my sake and that of every other NRL player."

But Newcastle and NSW wing Adam MacDougall got a one-week ban for a similar offence after State of Origin Two.

The refs and judicial reviewer will be watching. Watching Smith, especially.

That seems to be messing with his head.

"I have to get back on the park and let my football do the talking," the 109kg, 187cm Smith said.

The suspensions soured re-signing negotiations with the Dragons.

Before his latest ban, five weeks for a high tackle, there was no talk of a contractual clause of no play-no pay. Afterwards, there was.

"I'm looking at the last couple of years of my playing and earning career and I have to do the best for Craig Smith. I don't want to lose too much."

He is on around $A300,000 ($377,000) and was apparently offered similar money to stay. Then came the change that he could earn that much, but had to play all games.

"I've done what I can to correct the actions that have been apparently causing the problems," Smith said. "And after all, it's a hard, physical contact sport and my job is up front in the tough stuff.

"If they [St George] are going to treat it as a business decision, then so am I," he said of his decision to look elsewhere.

He told the club he was keen to look at England, and the Dragons have given him permission to negotiate there, but not with any of the other 13 NRL outfits until after June 30.

He has had "a couple of serious offers" in Euro Super League - the best apparently £175,000 ($590,000), a house and car at Wigan, who are said to be on the verge of punting Steve Renouf to accommodate Smith under the import quota - but admits "I've got a great lifestyle here."

Smith and partner Nicole have a home overlooking the beach. He can surf, she rides horses and "I like playing for the Dragons."

Nicole was behind him if it came to a shift, the former Kaitaia boy said.

He was a late starter in league - 25 years old before he made the NRL with Souths - but felt he was only just coming into his best form.

"I think I'm getting better and my best might still be ahead of me," said Smith, who has played 11 tests since his international debut in the 23-all draw against Great Britain in 1998.

"It takes time to learn the tricks of the trade in the front row. I'm prepared to back my ability," he said, with no thoughts that the current depression could lead to early retirement.