After fighting back from a calf injury which plagued the middle part of his season at St George Illawarra, the backrower became an integral member of the team's long-awaited premiership success.

Smith then reproduced his finals series form to help lead the Kiwis to their first major tournament win since being crowned world champions in 2008.

"It's always good to finish a career on a high with a club," Smith said. "And then to win with the Kiwis was definitely one of the highlights and something I'll look back on when I retire."

Smith comes to the Sharks full of expectations. And Cronulla have Dragons mentor Wayne Bennett to thank for helping to lure the 30-year-old to Sutherland Shire-based club on a three-year-deal.

"It was tough leaving the Dragons," Smith said. "But Wayne said to me that I needed to do what's right for me and my family.

"He was more than happy for whatever to happen, happen. I suppose it's a new chapter in my life and a new experience."

Injuries limited Smith's two-year stint at the Dragons to 30 matches with a calf strain still a concern.

"It still niggles me a little bit," Smith said. "They monitor my workload and keep an eye on it. If it starts getting a bit sore, they pull me out."

He joins an already established forward pack including Paul Gallen, Anthony Tupou, Luke Douglas and Kade Snowden. While Tupou is a noted wide-runner, Gallen and Smith have spent most of their careers in the middle of the field.

Despite a slight preference to stay around the ruck, Smith is likely to shift wider this season.

"We've got a real good forward pack and I think we'll be a force to be reckoned with," Smith said.

"I'm not too sure what my role is at the moment, I'm just trying to get through training. I've played most of my career in tight but I'm not fussed."

Smith lives at Wollongong and drives with young backrower Tyson Frizell to training.