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NRL – Jeremy Smith signs new one-year contract with Newcastle Knights

Jeremy Smith looks set to end his playing career at the Newcastle Knights after agreeing a new one year contract.

The 35 year-old, who joined the Knights from Cronulla Sharks in 2013, looks set to have one last season in the NRL and he will do so while wearing the famous red and blue.

Smith has represented the Knights 47 times since joining from the Sharks and has also played for St George Illawarra Dragons and Melbourne Storm.

Jeremy Smith (Tony Feder/Getty Images)

The New Zealand international has won the NRL Grand Final twice in his career but only one will go down in the record books.

His ‘first’ was in 2007 while playing for the Melbourne Storm but it was stripped from the club due to salary cap breaches, his second title win was in 2010 when he started the Grand Final win for St George Illawarra Dragons against the Sydney Roosters.

Speaking on signing a new deal, Smith said: “The club is everything to me, it is a family club and I have really enjoyed my time here.

“I am relieved that this is all done and dusted because I can get on with the rest of this season knowing I have next year here and I am really looking forward to it.

“Age is only a number and I am confident about playing next season. The coaching staff got me through the pre-season really well, credit to them, and I feel like I started the season off well.”

With a number of senior players set to depart at season’s end, captain Kurt Gidley is just one prime example, the Knights were eager to keep Smith at the club.

Knights director of football Michael Hagan added: “We are delighted to re-sign Jeremy for one more season and to see him finish his career at the Knights.

“He brings a wealth of experience to our team and he will have a great influence on some of our young forwards in the next 12 months. The Knights has been built on securing players with toughness and he has demonstrated that plenty of times during his career.”

 

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David Cox
David is Crunch Sport's baseball guru. He's a walking, talking almanac when it comes to stats and facts. His elementary school dreams of playing professionally were scuppered by terrible co-ordination, but luckily his writing skills kept him in touch with his beloved sport through high school and beyond.

David is Crunch Sport's baseball guru. He's a walking, talking almanac when it comes to stats and facts. His elementary school dreams of playing professionally were scuppered by terrible co-ordination, but luckily his writing skills kept him in touch with his beloved sport through high school and beyond.

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