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Reds recruit New Zealand Test star

14/ 8/2008

SALFORD coach Shaun McRae believes that new half back signing Jeremy Smith will be the perfect foil for young guns Stefan Ratchford and Richard Myler.

The 27-year-old New Zealand international will leave NRL outfit South Sydney Rabbitohs at the end of the season having signed up for Salford’s 2009 and 2010 Super League campaigns.

McRae said: "He’s a player I signed to play at Souths but then I left. I know him quite well. I know what he’s capable of doing. He will provide a very good option for us playing at six or seven along with Richard Myler and Stefan Ratchford.

"He’s got a very good kicking game and he directs people around the field very well. He’s a lot more experienced than Stefan and Richard and that’s what I was looking for.

"I knew that I couldn’t go into Super League and expect a 20-year-old and an 18-year-old to lead us around the field well every single week.

"Jeremy is a top class half back of proven ability who will greatly assist with the development of our younger players. Stefan and Richard have enormous talent and potential and they can learn so much and benefit greatly from playing with Jeremy.

"He is a very good signing for this club and he is greatly looking forward to playing for us in Super League."

Salford’s director of football Steve Simms said: "We are absolutely thrilled and delighted to be bringing in a top quality player of Jeremy’s stature.

"He is a tremendous player. He is a great leader out on the field and this signing outlines our intentions."

Big Bruce Springsteen fan Smith has played in three Tests for New Zealand over the last year, including against Great Britain at Wigan in November.

But he has not been included in the Kiwis’ provisional 40-man squad for this year’s World Cup in Australia.

Smith, who was given a lengthy suspension for pushing a referee in 2006, joined South Sydney from Parramatta Eels for the start of the 2007 season. He has also been on the books at Cronulla Sharks.