Dewsbury Rams recently announced that we have signed trialist Alex Smith.
The 23 year old halfback is looking forward to what he can achieve at the Tetley’s Stadium. Although he is currently frustrated with an injury he’s hoping to get back into the thick of the action as soon as possible.
On why he wanted to join the club he said: “After speaking to Lee and talking to him about the team and the goals of the team for the year it felt like a good fit for me to come and test myself!
“I knew a little bit about the club because I know Dom Speakman who was obviously here last year. He had nothing but good things to say especially after the way they started last season.”
Smith although still young has lots of experience under his belt. Having played the sport since the age of five.
He said: “I’ve been playing rugby from the age of five and I’ve gone the long way round to get this opportunity.
“I was playing with Widnes until I was 16. I then got released and just started to play open age amateur rugby at Halton Farnworth Hornets. I then went to uni and in 2019 got selected to represent England uni and played for Salford reserves last year until covid hit and we had to cancel the season.”
Smith has already pulled on a Rams shirt having played in the friendly against Batley at Mount Pleasant. He says he was nervous before the game, however he managed to harness those jitters and put in a good display. Unfortunately in the lead up to the Wakefield game, Smith picked up an injury which has left him feeling a bit frustrated.
“Having the injury right now is massively frustrating because I felt like I was starting to get into the swing of things. After playing the Batley game I was chomping at the bit to get going again but it’s part and parcel of the game and hopefully it’s not as bad as first thought. Hopefully I can get fit and push for a place in the starting squad.
“On the morning of the game I was pretty nervous, truth be told because it was my first game at this level. However as soon as I got on and had my first touch and made my first contact I was buzzing and I really enjoyed being out there with the lads.”
Smith sees himself as a utility player and so will play anywhere on the pitch. Saying that, he has started to enjoy playing in the halfback position.
Smith commented: “I’ve never really thought of myself as having one position. I’ve always called myself a utility player but these last couple of years since playing with England I’ve been focusing on being a halfback and have felt myself really kicking on.”
The thing Smith is really looking forward to the most in 2021 is testing himself in the Betfred Championship.
He said: “My personal ambitions for the season are to get myself fit and be in the team as regular as possible and give Lee that selection headache.
“My other ambitions are for the team to get into the playoff places come the end of the season.
“I’m massively looking forward to the season even more so when hopefully in a couple of months time we can have the fans back in because it’s not the same without them.
“I’m really looking forward to testing myself at Championship level. I have always had the self belief in the back of my mind that I can compete at this level if not further and now I’ve been given the opportunity.
“It’s nice to have the belief put in me by the coaches at the club.”
