Eels lift halfback Smith's suspension

Troubled Parramatta halfback Tim Smith will finally resume his NRL pre-season after the club lifted a suspension on him.

Queenslander Smith was suspended indefinitely by the Eels following a series of alcohol related incidents last month, including him being caught drinking less than a week after agreeing to a booze ban.

Smith, who turns 23 on Sunday, has agreed to a number of sanctions, which include a fine, charity work and further rehabilitation, the club said in a statement.

Parramatta general manager Greg Mitchell, coach Michael Hagan and football manager Andrew Hill met with Smith's manager David Riolo on Tuesday to discuss the halfback's future with the 2007 NRL semi-finalists.

"Tim has been working hard to overcome a number of personal issues and is very grateful of the support from the Parramatta Eels and general support from the community," Riolo said in the statement.

"Tim is looking forward to returning to training and the season ahead."

The club's hierarchy have thrown their support behind the 2005 NRL rookie of the year, who is also recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and is likely to miss the first month of NRL action.

"I am satisfied with the process that the club and Tim have taken and we are placing a support mechanism around Tim," Eels chief executive Denis Fitzgerald said in the statement.

Hagan added: "I am looking forward to Tim returning to training and, along with the team, stepping up preparations for the 2008 season."

On December 14 Smith booked himself into a Queensland rehabilitation clinic after a drinking binge less than a week after he'd agreed to a booze ban.

A week earlier, the Eels had fined the halfback $1,000 and issued the season-long ban after a member of the public complained about obnoxious behaviour by Smith.

In 2006 he was threatened with the sack and fined $10,000 for alcohol influenced behaviour.