Smith relishing Knights return

Newcastle enforcer Jeremy Smith is relishing his return from suspension against South Sydney on Saturday.

New Zealand international Smith has spent six matches on the sidelines following his head slam tackle on Penrith’s Matt Robinson in round six.

“It has certainly been a long six-weeks but we have a tough game this week and I am looking forward to it,” Smith told the Knights’ official website.

“It is hard when you are not out there and have no control over what is happening on the field.

“I have done a fair bit of training while I have been suspended and have had time to go over a few things with my tackle technique so hopefully it pays off.”

The Knights will be without injured duo Kurt Gidley and Aku Uate for the match against the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium while Daruis Boyd is on Origin duty with Queensland.

But Smith is confident that the Knights can bounce back from their defeat against the Warriors on Sunday.

“We need to complete our sets, we start to panic a bit and there is a lack of leadership on the field at times,” added Smith.

“We are working on that and I am pretty confident coming back myself and in the other leadership boys to step up.”