Johns v Smith: The interview

parragirl · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject: Johns v Smith: The interview

The halfbacks ... Andrew Johns asks the probing questions to young-gun Tim Smith. Photograph: Dean Marzolla

February 17, 2008 12:00am

HAVING battled injury and depression for much of last year, the coming season has brought new hope for Parramatta halfback Tim Smith. He opens up to Andrew Johns.

Q. You have come through a pretty tough off-season, mate. How are you now?

A. Yeah, feeling pretty good at the moment. Still coming off a shoulder injury as well, so a lot of my time has been taken up with that. But I'm going good.

Q. I didn't really mean the shoulder, mate, to be honest. More the off-field dramas you've been dealing with. The media scrutiny was intense - how did you handle that at the time?

A. Obviously it was tough at the time. I didn't know what to do, to be honest.

Q. Did you read the papers? Did you know what was being written about you?

A. No. Since my first little incident, I've learned to not read the papers. But I've had a lot of good people around me who have helped me and the club has been good as well, so I've just got to make sure I learn from it.

Q. What about people in the street pulling you up and having a go at you?

A. You're always going to have a few knockers out there but, to be honest with you, I don't really care what they have to say. I've just got to move on.

Q. From my own experience, all that pressure can take a pretty big toll, which the average bloke finds hard to understand. How have you handled it?

A. Like I said before, it's been pretty tough. I think I just tried to put myself around people who were supportive, and my family and friends did that for me. Obviously it was a tough time, only being a young bloke, but you've got to move on and that's what I'm trying to do.

Q. During that low period after you got yourself into trouble, did you fear your career with the Eels might be over?

A. It went through my mind, for sure, and I was sort of dreading it because the club has been so good to me. But like I said, the club's been great - they've looked after me and helped me through a lot, so hopefully I can repay them this year.

Q. So you feel a little bit indebted to the club for the way they've supported you and stood by you? Maybe you could repay them with a premiership?

A. I'd definitely love to repay them with a premiership. But first, I just want to do the right thing, put the dramas behind me and get back on the field and do my best to help the club.

Q. Did you ever feel like getting up and walking away from the game altogether during all the drama?

A. There were times, yeah ... being only 22, that sort of pressure can get to you if you let it.
I didn't really want it or know how to handle it. But when I thought about it, if I didn't have footy then I wouldn't have too much else going on. But I had a good, long think about what I should do and I know I've made the right choice.

Q. You touched on the support from the club. What about from your family and friends?

A. Mum and dad were top notch and helped me through a lot. A few of my mates helped me as well, but I guess it all comes back to me in the end. I've just got to bite the bullet and face up to things. In saying that, family were definitely a big key in helping me get through it.

Q. Sorry to touch on it, mate, because I know you don't want to talk about it, but everyone knows you spent a little bit of time in rehabilitation. What lessons did you learn about yourself in there?

A. I think I learned a lot of people are a lot worse off than what we are.

Joey interrupts: We? (laughs)

Oh sorry, mate, I meant me. No, look, obviously it was a really tough little stint there but, like I said - and I'm going to keep saying whenever I'm asked - I don't want to dwell on it any more. It's over and I just want to move forward.

Q. Parra fans will want to know: do you have everything under control in your personal life now and can you put that into 100 per cent concentration on footy?

A. I think I'm going pretty well. I'm putting all my energy into getting back on the field. If I didn't have footy I'd be struggling, so if I can just put all my energy into that, I'll be in a good place. And maybe do some surfing.

Q. You touched on surfing. Is that a real escape from the pressure, and does it keep you on that even keel?

A. I think you'd know ... you get treated differently out there. You're not a footballer, you're just one of the boys. It's definitely an escape and I enjoy getting out there whenever I can.

Q. Take me back to your first season in '05. You were the rookie of the year and sort of blew everyone's mind that year. Playing for Parra in the seven jersey, there were even comparisons to the great Peter Sterling. How hard was that to handle?

A. During that year, it didn't really bother me at all but obviously the next year, I probably read one or two papers I shouldn't have. It ended up being a bit of a bad year but last season I went all right. Obviously there are thingsI can improve on and that's what you are here for. But if I can just get out there and get myself in a good place, hopefully we can get a premiership at the end of the year.

Q. As a halfback, are you looking to change anything about the way you play?

A. Obviously, there has been a lot of stuff about me running the ball and there are a few little things I have to change in the way I do things with the ball. I really want to get my defence right up there as well and not be such a target.

Q. I don't think anyone can question your toughness. You played through the semi-finals last season even though your shoulder was popping out at training.

A. It was going in and out but it wasn't too bad. A lot of other blokes out there had the same sort of injury. It was a bit of a distraction, but that's footy.

Q. You had the reconstruction done, when will you be right to play?

A. I wouldn't mind getting back for the New Zealand game over there (round two) or the following week at home against the Knights.

Q. What about the future? You came down from the Gold Coast - any thoughts about maybe going back and playing with the Titans at some stage?

A. Not really. I've always said to myself that I want to be a one-club player, as they say. I think that's how premierships are won and I think we have a pretty good base here at the Eels at the moment and hopefully we can all stick together.

Q. Last question, Tim: any final words for Eels fans?

A. Hopefully we're going to have a big year, so get out and support us as much as you can.

Joey: Appreciate your time and honesty, mate.

Smith: Thanks, mate.

http://www.news.com.au/dailyteleg.../0,22049,23226822-5006066,00.html

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