Shock call on tackle that injured Brandon Smith
Smith suffered suspected medial ligament damage to his right knee, with early fears that he could miss 6-8 weeks in what was his first game back from an ACL injury that ended his 2024 campaign.
The former Rooster made the move to South Sydney earlier this season and was five minutes away from getting through his first match when he was caught awkwardly in a tackle close to the line.
Smith knew something was wrong immediately, with play stopped as the club's medical staff helped him off the field where he limped up the tunnel.
No penalty was given at the time, and Lodge hasn't been charged for dangerous contact despite plenty of people thinking he had performed a hip-drop tackle.
Smith, however, posted on social media that Lodge had done nothing wrong.
'So happy to be back,' Smith posted on Instagram on Sunday night.
'Wasn't how I wanted it to go, but back playing the game I love.
'Just want to make sure everyone understands Matt Lodge done (sic) nothing wrong. It was an accident.
'We are friends, and if you watch, you can see nothing was wrong so please leave him alone. This stuff happens all the time.
'Much love and thanks for all the nice messages.'
Lodge's weight landed on the ground before his upper body appeared to pin Smith's leg, which caused the injury.
The match review committee looked at the incident and deemed the tackle didn't meet the criteria of a hip drop, with Souths coach Wayne Bennett not overly pleased with the call on Sunday night.
'It's up to (the NRL) to decide, but we're not playing with a lot of luck, and we didn't get any there from that decision either,' Bennett said, having voiced his frustrations over hip-drop inconsistencies earlier this year.
'I'm frustrated by a lot of things right now, but it's not going to do me any good.
'He's happy that it's only six to eight weeks instead of eight months. At least he can see the light at the end of the tunnel this time.'
There were no charges from Sunday's matches.
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