New Cronulla half-back Tim Smith admits he took a significant step forward in Saturday's 26-6 romp over Newcastle, but insists he's still well short of the form that saw him named Dally M Rookie of the Year back in 2005.

Smith, who was thrown a lifeline by the struggling Sharks last month, had a hand in three tries and crossed for the decisive four-pointer after half-time in what was a commanding performance in just his fourth game back in the NRL.

"I'm slowly getting there, I've only been back what is it now three or four games, so it's going to take a bit more time but we're slowly getting there which is good," Smith said.

Asked if he agreed with coach Ricky Stuart's assessment that it was his best performance in Cronulla colours, the cautious 25-year-old said: "Yeah definitely. I still didn't play that well but yeah it was probably the best game I've had since I've been back."

"I think in the first half I could see a fair bit of space out there but I was probably trying to push the play a little bit too much."

"And in the second half, Sticky (Stuart) just said play a lot more patient and I did, and it sort of opened up at the back end there. It was a good win for everyone."

Smith added when asked how his combination with skipper and five-eighth Trent Barrett is progressing: "Yeah good, but like I said we've only played four games together this year, so hopefully we can just keep going and hopefully it gets better and better."

Stuart, a former Test and NSW half-back renowned for having high expectations of his playmakers, praised Smith's efforts in the morale boosting victory.

"I thought he was real good," Stuart said of his enigmatic No.7.

"I thought it was his best game for us so far, and I think you'll probably notice that was Baz's (Barrett's) best game for us too because the hookers and the front-rowers, the back-rowers, everybody was doing their job."

"If everyone is completing their role and their work zone, it's just going to make it so much easier for Trent and Timmy."

"We've got to do our bit for our good players. We've got three or four brilliant players there, but we've got to do our bit for those players."