In a boost to NT Thunder’s ruck stock, two-time premiership player Ryan Smith has returned to the playing ranks.

The 30-year-old, who retired from Thunder at the end of last season along with teammate Cameron Ilett, has been back training with the club since April and will boost the team’s height alongside Jack Monigatti in the ruck.

Nicknamed ‘Scissors’ for his long legs, the 196cm player has played 61 games with NT Thunder since debuting in 2009.

He played 14 games in the 2015 premiership-winning season with the Club and was also a vital part of Thunder’s 2011 premiership side.

Smith has attended both 2018 Thunder Darwin games this season tossing the coin in Round 1 and presenting childhood friend and new Thunder player Joe Anderson with his Thunder guernsey in Round 3.

Smith is one of four players on the current NT Thunder list; including Darren Ewing, Cameron Ilett and Shannon Rioli to have played in both premierships.

Head Coach Andrew Hodges said Smith would be important to the team structure for the remainder of the season.

“Ryan not only brings great experience and knowledge to the team but his height will complement Jack Monigatti and free up our other talls to play key position roles’.

“Scissors has been involved in junior coaching over the past couple of years and is a natural leader on and off the ground around the club,” Hodges said.