Smith backs Keinhorst to shine at Wakefield

Correspondent

Wakefield threequarter Lee Smith is pleased that two of his former colleagues at Leeds have joined him at the Wildcats.

Luke Briscoe and Jimmy Keinhorst have joined Wakefield on loan until the end of the season, and Smith anticipates high quality performances from both players.

“I was at Leeds with those two,” Smith told Love Rugby League.

“Obviously I only had a year with Luke. Jimmy’s been around for a couple of years while I was there.

“He was a bit unfortunate last year with getting a shoulder injury. But he’s a good athlete, and if we can give him good ball then I’m sure he can make things happen.”

Smith feels that Richard Agar’s squad will benefit from there being a good blend of youth and experience this season.

“There is a pretty good blend,” he said.

“There is some experience, with Paul Sykes, Andy Raleigh, Richie Mathers and Ali Lauitiiti.

“But there’s also some good kids coming through. The two really young kids, the 16-year-olds, Max Jowitt and Jordan Crowther, they’re really coming on.

“I think they’ve benfited a lot from being with the first team, and training with us.

“There’s some good kids in the squad, and hopefully we can point them in the right direction and get off to a good start.”

Smith is also feeling in good shape personally, despite at 28, beginning to reach the veteran stage of his career.

“I feel in good shape,” he said.

“I suppose it gets a little bit harder as you get older. I still feel young, though!

“There’s a lot of young kids in the squad to keep me young, which is good. 

“I class myself as ‘a little experienced’, not quite a veteran yet!”