Penrith Panthers is delighted to confirm promising young forward Lindsay Smith has been immediately promoted to the club's top 30 NRL squad.
The 20-year-old was due to join the squad next season after signing a two-year deal earlier this year but the recent departures of Kaide Ellis and Jed Cartwright paved the way for an early upgrade.
A local St Marys junior, Smith first entered the Panthers development pathways at the age of 14 via the club’s Junior Elite Training Scheme (JETS).
His representative honours include a man-of-the-match performance for the U16s NSW Origin team in 2016 and selection in the 2017 Australian Schoolboys side alongside Panthers teammate Spencer Leniu.
A double shoulder reconstruction sidelined Smith in 2018 before he returned to play 19 games for the Panthers Jersey Flegg side last season.
Speaking when Smith signed his first NRL contract in March this year, Panthers General Manager Matt Cameron praised the youngster for his professionalism coming through the grades.
"He’s impressed at every level during his seven years in the Panthers system and his journey truly highlights the quality of our development programs," Cameron said.
“On and off the field, Lindsay reflects the core values that we strive to instil in the young men and women at our club.”
