Eels' Tim Smith swaggers back into form

Parramatta halfback Tim Smith has finally got his familiar swagger back.

Not the swagger which comes after a few too many drinks, like was too often the case in 2006, but the walk of confidence that he is back in control of his game and those around him, like he had in his rookie of the year season of 2005.

Smith produced a man of the match performance for Parramatta on Friday night, having a hand in all four tries as the Eels beat Penrith 27-14 at CUA Stadium.

The 22-year-old said he was starting to sense the return of the quiet confidence that had him touted as a future Queensland Origin star two years ago.

But Smith knows his difficult 2006 season has dented those ambitions, as he now sits behind Australian Test half Johnathan Thurston, Melbourne's Cooper Cronk and probably Gold Coast's Scott Prince in the Maroons' list of No.7 options.

"(Origin) is probably the last thing (on my mind) at the moment. If you're looking at Queensland halfbacks at the moment there's a few of them around aren't there?" said Smith.

"The best halfback in the game at the moment, Thurston, is a Queenslander. I'm just going to keep playing well and hopefully good things will come." Smith said even his teammates had noticed his newfound confidence as he was starting to bark his orders around the paddock of get his hands on the ball more often.

"If you look at all the good halfbacks running around at the moment they're touching the ball three or four times each set (of six)," he said.

"That's one of my goals to get my hands on the ball a fair bit and steer the team around. Tell the big fellas where they're meant to be and put a good kick on the end of it.

"When you get some confidence (your ability to run the ball) comes back and obviously you enjoy it more playing. I don't know if you saw it out there but I was smiling a lot more and it helps me.

"Confidence is a big thing in rugby league and I was down on it a bit last year and maybe a few games this year and I'm starting to get it back.

"Hopefully I can keep wobbling my head as the boys say and just keep playing well."

Eels coach Michael Hagan said the continued growth of confidence by Smith was key to Parramatta's fortunes this season.

"He knows he's got a good team in front of him at the moment and some good strike players around him so he's just got to know what to do and he's only young and learning all the time," said Hagan.

"Your halfback is so important now and the better he plays the more confidence the team gets and the better off we will be overall.

"We thought hopefully by week four or week five we'd be getting our best team on the field and playing some decent football.

© 2007 AAP