Will Smith is no stranger to responsibility.

A few months ago, the Penrith playmaker and his partner, Kayla Faulkner, welcomed a baby girl into the world. Now he will be celebrating an altogether different berth, the NRL variety, against Canterbury on Friday night. The 22-year-old rookie has been given the task, alongside Jamie Soward, of steering the Panthers into the finals just a few weeks after taking up an option to remain at the foot of the mountains next year.

Knight turned Panther: Will Smith. Credit:Getty Images

This is truly a family affair. Smith's dad, Eddie, is a local legend in Newcastle. Also a five-eighth, Eddie was one of the region's best playmakers during a distinguished career for Wests Newcastle in the local competition. Until recently, father and son would carve up the opposition teams when playing together in Aboriginal knockout competitions.

Penrith NYC coach Garth Brennan, who played alongside Eddie and coached Will for almost all of his career, reckons they didn't breed them tougher than the Smith family.