Now 2017 tells a new story – one of the Central West’s best ever players is back, and looking to take the defending premiers to back-to-back grand final glory.

Announced at the Dragons’ season launch on Sunday, Smith is as eager as ever to deliver stand-out performances in the red V.

“I’m keen to get back to playing here in Mudgee and enjoying my footy again,” Smith said of his return.

“To get back to why I got into it in the first place is really important to me, and the Dragons have always been really good for that.”

Corin feels like the time he spent in Sydney was invaluable to learning the inside-outs of the game, but is keen to have the freedom of playing in Group 10 once again.

“It was really uniform at the Jets, and they were a really good opportunity for me to learn and train regularly,” he said.

“I’m glad that I got the chance that I did – I was still doing preseason with them before the Dragons tabled an offer.”

Although Corin has already won a premiership with the Dragons back in 2009, when the boys in red and white downed the Lithgow Workies in a close 32-29 thriller, he’s eager to repeat the glory of the 2016 team.

“They have a lot of talent here and I’m glad that I get to work with a lot of the new boys as well as the guys that have been around for a while,” the high-flying centre admitted.

“To go back-to-back with these boys would be a really great season, and I’m just looking forward to playing and enjoying footy again, and getting through everything a game at a time.”

“We’ll see where we’re all at in the first round and then go from there.”

Round 1 of the Group 10 competition sees the Mudgee Dragons with a road game at Cowra.

Mudgee loyalists have a chance to see their superstar in the second round however, when Mudgee’s first home game welcomes St Pat’s to Glen Willow on April 16.