Mixed news for Parramatta's Smiths

Parramatta centre Ben Smith made a successful return from injury on Saturday night, but the good news was tempered by a season-ending injury to halfback Tim Smith.

Tim Smith will undergo surgery this week after breaking his collarbone during Parramatta's stunning 46-12 NRL victory over Newcastle, with Jeremy Smith likely to be his replacement.
The news was better for Ben Smith, who played about 55 minutes in his first game back from an ankle injury he sustained against North Queensland in round four.

The exciting three-quarter was expecting to play in the Premier League on Saturday night, but an injury to NSW back Timana Tahu gave him the opportunity to step straight into first grade in his return game.

"It feels a very, very big relief, it's probably been too long," Ben Smith said.

"I've had a couple of times where I've tried to come back but it just wasn't right but I finally got there.

"When you are out for so long you question whether you can come back, especially straight back into it.

"It was a great game to come back in, especially with the boys on a roll.

"It's a good game to get under my belt, so if JT (coach Jason Taylor) picks me next week I think I can get through a full game."

Smith said the Eels were starting to rediscover the team spirit experienced during their run to the minor premiership last year.

"We're starting to get that feeling that we had last year and now we just have to keep going and hopefully make a run to the semis," he said.

"We know it's going to be hard but we made a goal a few weeks ago to win three out of the next four games and we've done that.

"Now we just have to keep taking it game by game and hopefully make our way up the ladder."

The Eels, plagued by off-field dramas for much of the season, have strung together three consecutive wins to keep alive their slim semi-final hopes. Captain Nathan Cayless said the enjoyment factor had returned in recent weeks.

"We've been bashed left, right and centre over the year - not on the field," Cayless said.

"A bit of that has come from us, but we are starting to get it together.

"We've come through that, a tough period, and we're playing some good footy again."

Taylor downplayed talk of a charge into the finals.

"There's still a long way to go, I don't want you guys saying we're going to make it," he said.

"We know where we're at and what we need to do."

The Eels were hoping to lure Melbourne pivot Scott Hill next year to replace Wests Tigers-bound five-eighth John Morris, but Hill indicated last week Super League club Harlequins is the team most likely to snare his signature.

© 2006 AAP