Smith set for NRL return

Wigan half-back Tim Smith is set to return to Australia at the end of the season, with Gold Coast Titans leading the chase to sign him.

Smith, 24, was released by Parramatta last year, and moved to the JJB Stadium midway through the season looking to resurrect his career after a spell in rehab.

His Wigan contract is up at the end of the year, and Gold Coast, along with Penrith and Melbourne, have expressed an interest.

Wigan Chairman Ian Lenagan said: “Tim is playing very well right now and he has shown some good form, but the plan is for him to return to Australia later this year.

“That was always the agreement, to come to Wigan for a year-and-a-half, because he came to England to try to get his career back on track.

“He is a player of outstanding talent and I suppose there is a slight possibility things could change if Tim changes his mind, but there was no indication of that when I spoke to David Riolo a couple of weeks ago.

“Tim’s a surf and sun boy and it looks pretty certain he will be going back to Australia.”

Meanwhile, Warriors young star Sam Tomkins has been cleared to play against Hull KR this weekend after escaping a ban for kicking out at former Wigan forward Danny Sculthorpe in Saturday’s Challenge Cup win over Wakefield. Tomkins was handed a £300 fine.