The Parramatta Eels backrower was a Gunnedah Bulldogs junior and senior player before he went to Sydney so yesterday’s visit was a homecoming of sorts.

He joined fellow Eels Reni Maitua, Jacob Loko and Rory Brien at Gunnedah yesterday on the second stop of their NRL One Community Carnival tour.

Caroona-bred Smith showed the others around Boggabri and Gunnedah before heading to Kitchener for a come and try day for local kids.

“It’s good to come back,” Smith said.

“We were at Boggabri this morning and then we visited four of the (Gunnedah) schools.

“And it looks like there’s been a good turn-out.”

Scores of kids showed up for the come and try day, which also allowed parents to sign their youngsters up for the Gunnedah junior league.

Among them were Smith’s second cousins from Gunnedah, Kurt (7) and Chad (4) Fisher.

Smith and his Eels teammates also helped the Armidale junior league club sign up plenty of kids last week during their four-day stay, but he admitted the Gunnedah weather was a little more welcoming.

“It was raining and cold,” he said.

“Then we get here and it’s hot.

“But that’s the way it should be in summer.

“Hopefully they sign up a few kids.

“The under 16s and 18s have been good for a while so hopefully they sign plenty of the younger boys to keep it going.”

Smith started playing league at Gunnedah and then spent his last season there before going to the Eels.

“I started playing when I was six or seven in the Gunnedah minor league,” he said.

“Then I went to Werris Creek but I came back here for my last year, when I was in Year 12.”

He played first grade for the Dogs that year, alongside older brother Brad, and under coach Wayne

Griffiths.

Smith said the trip was an eye-opener for his city-raised teammates, who aren’t used to country hospitality.

“Jacob Loko, he’s from the city, and he’s been asking me all kinds of questions about growing up in the country,” Smith said.

“They notice how laid-back people are here and how friendly everyone is.”

The players visit Gunnedah South school from 8am this morning for a charity breakfast before moving on to Werris Creek, Currabubula and Duri schools.

They complete the visit with a stop at the Tamworth Hospital this afternoon.

Smith then heads back to Sydney for this weekend’s trial against the Wests Tigers, while the other three players continue their recovery from injury just three weeks out from the start of the NRL

competition.