Cheesed off: Souths recruit to miss six weeks after injuring knee in defeat to Manly
Smith, making his debut for Souths and playing for the first time since he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last September, while at the Sydney Roosters, fell awkwardly in a tackle by Manly prop Matthew Lodge five minutes from full-time.
He limped from the field in obvious discomfort and Souths coach Wayne Bennett said afterwards the Kiwi international had suffered suspected medial ligament damage, which could rule him out for 'six to eight weeks'.
Asked if he had any concerns about the tackle, Bennett replied: 'It's up to them [the match review panel] to decide, but we're not playing with a lot of luck, and we didn't get any there from that decision, either … I'm frustrated by a lot of things right now, but it's not going to do me no good.'
Smith's latest injury was to his right knee – the same one that required reconstructive surgery last year.
Asked about Smith's mood, Bennett said: '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.'
Manly coach Anthony Seibold: 'I haven't had a look at it, but it wasn't a penalty from that one. I'm not sure. I'd have to have a look at it.'
Smith's injury was another body blow for Souths, who slumped to their sixth consecutive defeat and remain 16th on the competition ladder, six points adrift of the eight with seven rounds to play.
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Lodge spent that time building his house, working in construction and boxing, supplementing his income and taking his mind off the fact he was losing his football fitness. But he says he has dropped several kilograms since returning to full-time training, and believes he has a number of NRL seasons left in him. "Six weeks ago I wasn't at my fittest. I probably took a couple of pies at work and put on a few kilos. But I also wasn't training full-time," Lodge said. "You can't get fit at footy without doing footy. "I probably went full-time a month ago. They've ripped six or seven kilos off me already. That just comes with training and playing." Matt Lodge has been cleared of any foul play on Brandon Smith, with the Manly prop admitting he would have been distraught if his tackle ruptured the hooker's ACL again. 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"It wasn't like he was driving his legs and I sat back on the back of his legs," Lodge said. "Wayne's played the game. He probably knows sometimes you fall in those positions. There was no intentional malice." Unsigned by Manly at the end of last year, Lodge had talks with Souths and St George Illawarra fizzle out before the Sea Eagles offered him a NSW Cup deal as a lifeline. The terms of that offer mean Lodge has an option to take up a full-time NRL deal with Manly again next year, elevating him back to the club's top-30 contracts after two seasons of train-and-trial contracts. "I reckon I might have set the record for the most train and trials," Lodge said. "They are tough to play on. You're playing for the love of it. The kids probably eat the contract in three days. That's why I top it off with work a couple of days a week." NRL rules prevented Lodge playing NRL until round 11 on a NSW Cup deal, while he was also restricted to one training session a week. Lodge spent that time building his house, working in construction and boxing, supplementing his income and taking his mind off the fact he was losing his football fitness. But he says he has dropped several kilograms since returning to full-time training, and believes he has a number of NRL seasons left in him. "Six weeks ago I wasn't at my fittest. I probably took a couple of pies at work and put on a few kilos. But I also wasn't training full-time," Lodge said. "You can't get fit at footy without doing footy. "I probably went full-time a month ago. They've ripped six or seven kilos off me already. That just comes with training and playing."
