Will Smith is no stranger to responsibility.
A few months ago, the Penrith playmaker and his partner, Kayla Faulkner, welcomed a baby girl into the world. Now he will be celebrating an altogether different berth, the NRL variety, against Canterbury on Friday night. The 22-year-old rookie has been given the task, alongside Jamie Soward, of steering the Panthers into the finals just a few weeks after taking up an option to remain at the foot of the mountains next year.
This is truly a family affair. Smith's dad, Eddie, is a local legend in Newcastle. Also a five-eighth, Eddie was one of the region's best playmakers during a distinguished career for Wests Newcastle in the local competition. Until recently, father and son would carve up the opposition teams when playing together in Aboriginal knockout competitions.
Penrith NYC coach Garth Brennan, who played alongside Eddie and coached Will for almost all of his career, reckons they didn't breed them tougher than the Smith family.
"I remember coaching Will in the Harold Matthews and we were in the quarter-finals," Brennan said.
"Right in the last minute of the game against South Sydney at Kogarah Oval, we thought Will strained his hamstring. He came off at the end of the game and we went through to the semi-final the next week.
"On the way home on the bus he said, 'Coach, I'll be right to play next week'.
"He got off the bus, got his bag and walked home a couple of kilometres from where we got dropped off. On the Monday, our doctor, Neil Halpin, rang me. He said, 'Geez, that Will Smith is tough'.
"He hadn't just torn his hamstring – where the hamstring joins the bone, he snapped the bone off. We couldn't believe he could walk let alone carry his bags for a couple of kilometres off the bus. He was only 15 at the time."
Smith dreamed of playing for the Knights but his pathway appeared blocked. He was behind outside backs including Akuila Uate, Joey Leilua, James McManus and Dane Gagai, while there was little chance of unseating more experienced halves.
Brennan, himself a Novacastrian who moved to Penrith to advance his career, finally convinced Smith to follow suit. Both will have their reward at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.
The huge Bulldogs pack will undoubtedly target the rookie half but the Panthers are unconcerned.
"I've coached Will in all ages and the benefit of having Will Smith as your halfback is you don't have to hide him," Brennan said. "They'll see this skinny, little fella and think they are going to run over the top of him. We'll, they're in for a shock.
"It's funny, I presented Will his jumper in front of the first grade boys. I talk about Eddie, how anyone in the NSW rugby league competition knew when Eddie was playing, there weren't too many tougher or better defensive five-eighths than Eddie Smith. The apple hasn't fallen far from the tree."
Smith is considered one of the fastest players in the club, can kick goals and got a taste of the big time when blooded during the inaugural Auckland Nines tournament. With regular No.7 Peter Wallace out for the rest of the year, the unheralded half has the chance to take the team to the finals and beyond.
"He's a super talent, super fast, a really good defender and really driven," Brennan said. "He's from a wonderful family. I've been close to Will for a long time and it means a lot to me to see him get his chance this weekend."
