WHILE part of the furniture at Headingley, Leeds’ testimonial man Cameron Smith endured the most difficult period of his career last season.
Restricted to just 12 appearances due to two serious injuries – a syndesmosis issue in his ankle and then bulging discs in his back – Smith wasn’t able to contribute as well as he would have liked to a Leeds side that fell in the first round of the play-offs.
It’s been a long road to recovery for the 27-year-old, who has had to have spinal surgery to ensure he is back fit and raring to go.
But a return date has been pencilled in for the loose-forward – and it just so happens to be his testimonial against Bradford this Sunday, January 24.
“I’m in the pipeline to be back playing now. I’ve been full training for a number of weeks and I’m feeling really good,” Smith told League Express.
“My return date will be my testimonial on the 24th of January, so I can’t wait.
“I have said it a number of times, I feel like I haven’t played for ages. I had a really disjointed 2025. It was awful.
“Things happened to me what were out of my control. I was extremely frustrated and it put things into perspective that you’re only one knock away from being out for a serious amount of time.
“I’m just grateful that I’m healthy and that I’m back in the firing line to play.
“Having spinal surgery was pretty daunting. I was hanging around to see the best surgeon, talking to people with different opinions. Do I need it at 26? Should I be having spinal surgery so early in my life?
“But I’m really grateful that I’ve had it done. If I had left it any longer I’m not sure what I would have been like.
“Luckily I was seen by the best and everything has been good since. I had two bulging discs in my back which were sitting on the nerves that run down my legs.
“Basically, it got to a point where I couldn’t even move. I had issues with it previously in my career but prolonged the surgery so I could keep playing.
“It just got too much and I got a specialist’s opinion and ended up having surgery. It was a two-hour operation.
“It wasn’t a complicated surgery but it is complicated if you’re a sportsman because there are a ton of risks.”