Smith back at Headingley convinced Wakefield have shot at sinking Leeds

LEE SMITH will make an emotional first return to Headingley tomorrow with a club he says the defending champions must now respect.

The ex-England three-quarter joined Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in July after winning three Grand Finals and a World Club Challenge with home town club Leeds Rhinos.

When he arrived at their West Yorkshire neighbours, struggling Wakefield, who finished second bottom last year, were seemingly without a prayer of reaching the play-offs.

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Yet now they are on a seven-match winning run, the only game they have lost being Smith’s debut against Wigan, and being tipped by some as capable of knocking Leeds out tomorrow night.

“Coming in with eight games left I reckon even me personally thought it was a bit beyond us,” he said.

“But they’re a great set of lads here who stick together, take each game as it comes and surprise some teams along the way.

“It’s brilliant to make the play-offs but we don’t just want to be the team to do that – we want to be the team that makes an impact and goes to Headingley to give it a real good shot.

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“This is an exciting time for the club and I think we’ve gained some respect.

“I think Leeds have to respect us too.”

Smith, who played more than 150 games for the Rhinos, admits he has never even ventured into the away dressing rooms before at Headingley but insists: 
“It won’t be strange playing 
there.

“I’ve got some great memories – I’ve grown up there since I was a kid – and friends for life.”

Wakefield are bolstered by the return of another former Rhinos hero, Ali Lauitiiti, the Samoan second-row who helped win last year’s Grand Final but missed Wakefield’s last game at Salford due to a migraine.

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Leeds are ready to include England scrum-half Danny McGuire following a four-match absence due to a knee injury while the club have revealed they will spend £1m on relaying the Headingley pitch in October – the first time since 1963 – to “guarantee” future games will go ahead.