Smith has an embarrassment of
riches in the halves

Three old hands and a 20-year-old new chum hold the key to Parramatta's much publicised halves dilemma in 2005.

Former halfback Jason Taylor's retirement following the 2001 grand final loss directly coincided with a slide in the Eels' fortunes.

The club has missed the finals in both of the last two seasons, something that has been largely put down to the lack of a playmaker.

Michael Witt emerged last season and there were hopes that he may be a long-term solution, but he has gone to Manly in the off-season while the injury-prone Adam Dykes has returned to Cronulla.

But due to some astute off-season recruitment coach Brian Smith suddenly has an embarrassment of riches in the position.

Veterans PJ Marsh and Mark Riddell have joined the club, and although both have played the majority of their football at hooker, Smith believes they both can rotate in and out of half and five-eighth.

There is also the hardworking John Morris, who is already at the club and is expected to continue to push for a regular first grade spot.

But it is Gold Coast junior Tim Smith who has his namesake the most excited.

He played a half in Parramatta's 24-18 trial loss to Cronulla in Lismore at the weekend and he has been named in the team to play the New Zealand Warriors this weekend.

"(Tim Smith) is a very, very talented young kid," Smith said.

"He hasn't played any first grade football at all, apart from half a game on Saturday night, and I'd like to see him some more before I say definitely, but he's looking very good at this stage.

"He's starting against the Warriors this weekend, and the following weekend the plan is that he'll get some game time again against the Roosters, so we'll have had a look at him over three games and we'll get some idea as to whether he's ready or not.

"We know he's a good player, we're just not sure if he's ready to start first grade."

Smith said the neck injuries that had kept Marsh out of the game for two seasons while he was at the Warriors had made him stronger, both as a player and as a person.

"I know what a determined young bloke he is, and he's grown into a really well rounded, mature football player in his time at the Warriors," Smith said.

"A lot of things have happened to him, some good, some very good, some very bad, but he's taken it all in his stride.

"I'm very comfortable that he's going to be ready ... everybody worries about position, (but) I worry about performance, and I think PJ's going to bring a lot of stuff to me this year."