Latest news with #BrandonSmith
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Souths signing helped nurse Walker back to health
One of Brandon Smith's last acts as a Sydney Rooster was to help nurse Sam Walker back to health as the pair recovered from their serious knee injuries. Hooker Smith and halfback Walker suffered long-term anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the same Roosters game last September, entering rehabilitation as their teammates locked in for the 2024 finals. Walker had never suffered an injury as serious since his NRL debut in 2021, with the shoulder reconstruction he required in his rookie season the only thing that had come close. The 23-year-old said the famously upbeat Smith kept him going through the long months watching the Roosters from afar. "It's obviously a tough one," Walker said. "I had 'Cheese' (Smith) there with me through most of it, which was really cool for me as well, which helped me a fair bit. "Obviously there are periods there where it gets a bit painful, gets a bit tough. It's just good to have someone to lean on. "It was good to have someone there that was going through a similar thing to me." While Walker made his long-awaited return in Saturday night's 31-24 defeat of St George Illawarra, Smith fell further out of favour during his lay-off and eventually signed with South Sydney mid-season. By that point, he and Walker were almost ready to return to the field. "We were both pretty much there (when Smith left)," Walker said. "We got through most of it all together. It's tough to do but there are so many people in the club that have gone through it as well. You lean on those people." Smith's comeback lasted only one game before he went down with another knee injury, leaving the 29-year-old racing the clock for Souths' round-27 grudge match with the Roosters. After recovering from a thumb injury that delayed his own return, Walker was scathing in his review of his comeback game. The halfback laid on a try and kicked a field goal against the Dragons on Saturday night but also missed six tackles and threw a forward pass. "(It's) probably the most rocks or diamonds performance I reckon I've had in my NRL career," Walker said. "But I've got to keep building on that. I know I'll be fitter and faster and stronger as the season goes on." Walker was full of praise for rookie five-eighth Hugo Savala after the halves pairing's first hit-out together. "He helped me a lot out there with his control, his maturity in the way he plays," Walker said.
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brandon Smith tells critics to leave Matt Lodge alone after hip drop tackle sidelines him again
Brandon Smith certainly didn't envision his NRL return ending with him limping off injured. The hooker's fortune turned from bad to worse as he became victim of a suspect hip-drop tackle late in the Rabbitohs 30-12 loss to Manly in Brookvale. Smith's debut was cut short as Manly prop Matt Lodge attempted a tackle and landed awkwardly on his opponent's leg, with the 'cheese' heading straight for the tunnel. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Souths coach Wayne Bennett in his press conference after the match revealed Smith had suffered an MCL injury that will keep his new hooker sidelined yet again until late into the season. 'He's done a medial ligament, he will be six to eight weeks from that tackle,' Bennett said. 'I think he's pretty happy that it's only six to eight weeks, not eight months, so he can see the light at the end of the tunnel.' Not only did Bennet confirm Smith's good spirits, but the hooker himself took to socials to address the event in a classy gesture taking blame away from Lodge, who was placed on report for the incident. 'So happy to be back. Wasn't how I wanted it to go but back playing the game I love,' Smith said on his Instagram story. 'Just want to make sure everyone understands Matt Lodge done (sic} nothing wrong it was an accident. 'We are friends and if you was 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.' Smith has spent the better part of the past year on the sidelines recovering from an ACL injury suffered while with his former team the Roosters late in 2024. Atop his rehab, Smith also had to deal with his heavily publicised early exit from the Roosters to cross town rivals South Sydney. The 29-year-old will be pushing to return late in the season. Meanwhile, opposition centre Tom Trbojevic marked 'Try July' with a classy gesture of his own in a nod to recently passed Liverpool player Diogo Jota. Jota and his brother André Silva were found dead near the city of Zamora in Spain after their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames. The incident occurred just 10 days after Jota's wedding. While friends, family and teammates were mourning the football star at his funeral, Turbo sealed a try by holding up a 'two' and 'zero' with his hands, a nod to Jota's number 20 jersey with Liverpool.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shock call on tackle that injured Brandon Smith
Sea Eagles veteran Matt Lodge has avoided a charge for a tackle that may have ended Brandon Smith's season, with the prop forward receiving support from the injured star who was adamant there was 'nothing wrong' with the contact. 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.
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Leave him alone': Matt Lodge not charged by match review committee for tackle that could end Brandon Smith's season
Sea Eagles veteran Matt Lodge has avoided a charge for a tackle that may have ended Brandon Smith's season, with the prop forward receiving support from the injured star who was adamant there was 'nothing wrong' with the contact. 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. Brandon Smith suffered a suspected MCL injury - contact mechanism on outside of lower leg fairly textbook for MCL/syndesmosis damage. Early assessments from the Rabbitohs suggest he will miss 6-8 weeks - likely moderate to high grade injury. Rough in his first game back. — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 6, 2025 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.
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Heartbreak as luckless Rabbitohs star suffers huge blow on his return from injury and here's why footy fans are filthy about it
Brandon Smith's long-awaited return from an anterior cruciate ligament rupture has ended in tears, with the South Sydney recruit injuring his knee again in the Rabbitohs' 30-12 loss to Manly at Brookvale Oval. On a day where Tom Trbojevic showed signs of returning to his best playing centre, Smith suffered a medial ligament tear that Souths expect to sideline him for eight weeks. Smith's right knee was hurt when Matt Lodge's weight fell on it in a tackle late in the game, as the Rabbitohs spiralled to a sixth straight loss on Sunday to sit second-last on the ladder. 'He's done a medial ligament, it will be six-to-eight weeks from that tackle,' Bennett said. Smith was playing his first match since early September, after moving from the Sydney Roosters earlier this year. Asked whether he believed the contact from Lodge was of a hip-drop nature, Bennett suggested Souths were unlucky not to get a penalty from it. Brandon Smith suffered a suspected MCL injury - contact mechanism on outside of lower leg fairly textbook for MCL/syndesmosis damage. Early assessments from the Rabbitohs suggest he will miss 6-8 weeks - likely moderate to high grade injury. Rough in his first game back. — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 6, 2025 'It's up to them to decide, but we're not playing with a lot of luck, and we didn't get any there from that decision either,' Bennett responded. 'I'm frustrated by a lot of things right now, but it's not going to do me any good.' Lodge was not penalised for the contact and Smith's injury overshadowed what was a vital win for Manly, albeit against a severely undermanned Rabbitohs. Bennett wasn't the only one who appeared frustrated by the lack of action by the officials. Fox Sports commentator, Warren Smith, said: 'That's a hip drop tackle.' Steve Roach agreed, before Smith began to rant about the tackle. 'He had contact with him, came from one side of the tackle to use the hip or the body on the other side to make contact with Brandon Smith,' he said. 'It's a play we haven't rubbed out of the game and the suspensions need to be six weeks, eight weeks, 10 weeks to get rid of it. 'That technique didn't need to happen right there to effect the tackle. Who knows how serious the consequences might be for Brandon Smith?' Some fans on social media hit out at the tackle technique. 'Manly fan here, Lodge should miss a minimum of six weeks for that,' one wrote. 'Hip drop no doubt, how's the bunker missed that,' another wrote. 'Refs are a joke for saying play on,' one added. 'Hip drop tackle but nothing done on the field. Shameful reffing and watch the NRL apologise for getting it wrong.' It was only two weeks ago that the walls were closing in on coach Anthony Seibold, but the Sea Eagles are now back into the top eight after back-to-back wins. Two games into his shift from fullback to centre, Trbojevic scored a double and set up another as Manly went out to a 24-0 lead. Fans have taken to X to hit out at the tackle technique and also slammed referees for not penalising Lodge Seibold will consider whether to keep Trbojevic at centre after next week's bye, after initially moving his strike weapon to the edge in a bid to get his confidence back. Trbojevic appears to have at least done that, running with power again in what was easily his best match since March. He regularly played a roaming role in attack, popping up on the left of the field to give Manly an extra number on that side of the field in attack. The 27-year-old set up one try in that fashion when he linked with Lehi Hopoate to send Reuben Garrick over, before scoring another himself after forcing an error on a kick. It was Trbojevic's second try after the break that showed the most promise, when he again took a ball on the left, charged infield and beat three to score. 'The way he was able to inject himself on both sides of the field is not something a lot of centres can do,' Seibold said. 'He's done it at elite level, hasn't done it at club level. But I've really liked what I've seen. 'I want to have a look at (whether we're a better team with him at centre). My gut feel is it was another step in the right direction.' Garrick also scored a double in the win, while Manly are confident fellow winger Jason Saab only suffered a cork after limping off late.
