It might be old boys weekend at Melbourne, but Newcastle veteran forward Jeremy Smith won’t be joining his former teammates in the stands at AAMI Park on Sunday cheering the Storm against the Knights.
Instead, the 33-year-old will lead Newcastle’s charge as they look to end a three-match losing streak and crack their first win in Melbourne since 2004.
Smith started his NRL career at the Storm in that year, spending five seasons with them.
He still has strong ties to the club, with his former teammates – who are in Melbourne for the annual weekend – giving him a friendly late-night phone call to wish him all the best.
Smith has no plans to join them any time soon, right at home among the Knights’ ageing roster which was bumped up this week by the inclusion of 35-year-old Craig Gower.
But he doesn’t see age as a weakness.
“It doesn’t bother me because I’m fit and feeling good,” the back-rower said.
“I think age is only a number.”
The Knights had their final training session on Saturday morning before their flight south.
Veteran hooker Danny Buderus (back) won’t play until after next week’s bye but there was better news with winger Akuila Uate (ribs) and fullback Darius Boyd (ankle) taking their place in the travelling squad.
Gower, who joined the Knights from the London Broncos this week, was also included and is set to play a role from the bench with the team to be finalised before kick-off.
Smith said he watched some of the Storm’s 38-6 demolition job on Cronulla last round and was impressed.
“They were on fire last weekend and it’s going to be tough to contain them but, hopefully, we’ve taken the right steps to contain them,” he said.
He felt the Knights weren’t far away from a victory after a series of close losses.
“The ball hasn’t been falling our way lately but that will change and we’ll be able to pick up the spoils.”
While Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett backed the inclusion of prop Kade Snowden in the NSW State of Origin squad, the timing of Sunday’s 3pm game – with the team to be named at 4.45pm – will work against him and also Willie Mason, who is an outside chance to replace James Tamou.