Matty Smith took up an opportunity at Widnes Vikings back in 2008 to gain valuable First Team experience as he looked to kick-start his career in rugby league, joining the club on a short loan deal from St Helens.
11 years, two Super League titles and a Challenge Cup triumph later, the 32-year-old has penned a one-year deal to return to the Halton Stadium and pull on the Black and White shirt again in 2020.
With the former Catalans Dragons halfback admitting his career has come ‘full circle’ since his first spell with the Vikings, he is relishing a new challenge under the tutelage of Tim Sheens, one of the sport’s most decorated coaches.
“I’m excited to have signed for Widnes Vikings ahead of the 2020 season, and I can’t wait to get started,” Smith commented.
“It’s great to finally get a club sorted, and as soon as I spoke to Tim (Sheens) I wanted to sign here.
“I have been here before but I was a lot younger back then. At that point in my career I just wanted to play regular rugby league and that wasn’t happening at St Helens. Widnes gave me a chance to do that and I was really grateful at the time, coming over with the likes of Chris Dean and Steve Tyrer.
“I really enjoyed the three months I spent here at the back end of the 2008 season, now it feels like it’s come around full circle and now I have a chance to finish my career with Widnes.”
Smith’s nine appearances for the Vikings during the latter stages of the 2008 Championship season provided a springboard for his career, which eventually led him to a decorated five season spell at Wigan Warriors.
In his time at the DW Stadium, the halfback lifted the Super League trophy on two occasions, claimed the Lance Todd Trophy for his Man of the Match performance in their 2013 Challenge Cup Final victory and was named in the Dream Team twice.
Since leaving the Warriors, Smith returned to St Helens before spending the 2019 season with Catalans Dragons and Warrington Wolves, and is now looking ahead to the latest challenge in his career.
“Widnes is a big club, and although they’re currently in the Championship I think the goal around the town and the club with the appointment of Tim is to eventually get back into Super League, and hopefully I can be a part of that.
“It is an exciting squad and the way Tim wants the team to play really suits me, and hopefully that can bring out the best in me. I’m looking forward to starting now, we’re just over a month away from the first game and it is going to be a big month for me.
“Tim has probably forgotten more about rugby league than most people know, so to have the opportunity to work with him was a massive incentive. I’ve spent a bit of time with him over the last couple of days talking about rugby, and I just can’t wait to get going now.”
While Smith has enjoyed a successful career to date, which has included over 200 top flight appearances and representative honours with England and England Knights, it hasn’t been without challenge.
Rather than hiding away from criticism in the past, the 32-year-old has been determined to prove those people wrong, and is hoping to use his experience to help the younger members of the Vikings squad reach their full potential.
“Throughout my career I feel like I have always had a point to prove, and no matter where you play you always have a few doubters,” Smith added.
“I want to get back to enjoying my rugby again, and I think the way Tim wants to play will benefit me which will hopefully show in my performances on the pitch.
“I’m a big talker and I have been at all the clubs I’ve been at, and as a halfback you need to be able to control games and organise the team well. Hopefully I can do that here, as I’ve done that wherever I have been, and with this young team that we have I’m looking to add a bit of experience.
“These boys can play, and I’m looking forward to playing with Danny Craven, he’s experienced himself and he is such a talented player so I’ll be looking to put him through a few holes in the defence and get the best out of him.
“I’m looking forward to getting involved now, getting a few sessions in before Christmas and then really hitting the ground running in January with the boys before starting the season well.”
More than ever, the Championship is stacked full of players with vast experience at Super League level, with the addition of Smith helping to strengthen the competition.
Although the Vikings’ latest signing has spent the majority of his career playing at the top level, he isn’t taking the 2020 season lightly having seen first-hand how competitive the Championship is.
“I’ve played at this level before a long time ago, and even back then I knew how tough the division was.
“The Championship is really physical, and what probably sets Super League apart from it is the pace in which it is played at, but it is definitely as physical and as tough.
“I’m going to prepare myself like I would before any season and I’m going to try and continue to train full-time to keep as fit as I have been in the past to give me a bit of an edge. It’s a tough league and I’m not expecting anything different in 2020.”
Matty Smith is proudly sponsored by Landscape World for the 2020 Betfred Championship season.
