NRL larrikin Brandon Smith back as Souths cop fresh injury blow to Euan Aitken
Smith's NRL return comes against Manly some 308 days after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in what turned out to be his last game for the Sydney Roosters.
When Smith joined Souths in May, coach Wayne Bennett flagged low expectations of the forward hitting top form on his return from injury this year.
But Bennett confirmed on Saturday the 2020 premiership winner will come on from the bench at Brookvale Oval following a leg injury to Euan Aitken.
'(Smith) is pretty excited about it all, he's trained pretty well. Everything is right for him to go,' Bennett said.
Souths are still determining Aitken's return-to-play timeline as the centre becomes the latest Rabbitoh to be struck down by injury in a difficult 2025 season.
Latrell Mitchell, Alex Johnston, Cam Murray, Jamie Humphreys, Cody Walker and Campbell Graham are among key men to have spent time out of the side this year.
The latest injury comes just as 16th-placed Souths appeared to be approaching full strength and could open up a spot for beleaguered Lewis Dodd to return to the halves.
Signed before Bennett's coaching return was confirmed, the Englishman has been given only one chance to start in the halves at struggling Souths - at Magic Round amid a slew of injuries.
But Bennett may now have little option other than to shift Jack Wighton from five-eighth to Aitken's centre spot and promote Dodd from his bench.
Bennett was reluctant to detail Dodd's path into favour at the Rabbitohs as speculation mounts he could be forced out of the club.
'He knows and I know so we'll leave it at that. I don't really want to make it public. It's nothing to do with anybody else,' the coach said.
Anthony Seibold insists Tom Trbojevic is happy staying at centre for a consecutive week after a controversial shift from fullback for Manly's win over Wests Tigers.
'He actually said he enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity. He's had a good week's preparation,' the Manly coach said.
'He's the current Kangaroos centre, he's played for the Blues at centre so he's an elite centre as well as an elite fullback.'
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ABC News
25 minutes ago
- ABC News
Nathan Cleary 'frustrated' as Harry Grant milks field goal penalty in Storm-Panthers NRL blockbuster
Melbourne is one of the few teams in the NRL this season that has had a game-winning field goal chalked off for foul play while in possession. It happened when Trent Loiero gave away a penalty while playing the ball before Ryan Papenhuyzen slotted with a one-pointer with five minutes left in a Magic Round loss to Canberra. On Thursday night, the rugby league gods flipped the script by rewarding the Storm with a dubious call of their own when Harry Grant milked a penalty as Nathan Cleary potted from 27 metres out. Grant shot out of marker and, rather than make a beeline for Cleary's right kicking boot, took the scenic route to the left of the halfback around and ultimately into Panthers prop Moses Leota. Referee Ashley Klein blew his whistle the moment Grant hit the deck and before the ball passed between the posts, explaining the penalty to Leota before turning to Grant and saying "don't try and milk it either". Klein's comment after the fact was perhaps a recognition that Grant's efforts were not entirely dairy-free and Cleary protested, challenging the penalty. Bunker replays showed Grant hamming it up as he ran towards and around Leota, sticking an arm out and going to ground dramatically. Fans at Western Sydney Stadium may have had some hope of the on-field call being overturned, but bunker official Chris Butler broke their hearts, announcing: "Moses is now in a blocking position that denies Harry Grant a fair run to the ball. The challenge is unsuccessful." You could hear the wry smile on the face of Cameron Smith, Grant's predecessor and one of the game's greatest exploiters of NRL rules and procedures, as he remarked on the replays. "Harry does a really good job," Smith said in commentary for Channel Nine. "When you break it down, he's running to the wrong side of Nathan Cleary because [Cleary is] right-footed. So he does a really good job there." To make matters worse, Cleary had two more field goals charged down — one by Grant — before the Storm hooker and captain pulled off the ultimate dummy-half sneak in golden point to win a classic NRL clash. Last year the NRL announced rules to outlaw teams placing "blockers" in front of kickers to impede players pressuring field goal attempts. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary diplomatically said "Harry's too smart at both ends" when asked about it in the post-match press conference, before imploring his son to "tell the truth" when the same question was directed at the skipper. "If you're defending and you play for the obstruction, they don't want that in the game. For some reason it's different for a field goal," Nathan said. ABC Sport is live blogging every round of the AFL and NRL seasons in 2025. "I thought the blocking rule was brought in so people wouldn't stand next to the play-the-ball – Moses wasn't in that position. "I don't believe everyone can get behind me on that field goal, and then essentially Harry played for it because he knew he was going to get the penalty. "I don't think Moses moved at all, either. So, yeah, it was pretty frustrating." Cleary also argued Leota was in position to take a run, although his claim that the Panthers would pass to a prop at first receiver for a hit-up on the last tackle with three minutes on the clock was about as believable as Grant's acting performance in the collision. Melbourne's captain admitted there was some "inconsistency or confusion around it", adding if the NRL wants to come out and change things this week then he is OK with that, but said he was simply playing to the rules. "Even the Penrith boys were aware of it in the game and when it happened," Grant said. "Even the players on the field knew they weren't allowed to be in that position, they were saying 'get out of the road'. "We all know the circumstances at that time of the game, everyone trains and understands you're not allowed to be in that position. "It's a hard one, for sure, but that's just what's been policed throughout the season." Grant said "hats off to the officials" for making the tough call in the biggest moment of the game. The rules, announced in early 2024, were reiterated throughout last season. "If you don't want to take the risk of having a field goal disallowed, don't put these players in this position. You're inviting the referee to take action," NRL head of football elite competitions Graham Annesley said. "Why do they need to be there? They're clearly not receiving the ball, they know who the ball is going to so why put them there? You open the risk of the goal not being awarded."
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Tell the truth': Nathan Cleary takes aim at NRL rival Harry Grant over unsportmanlike act
Ivan Cleary preferred praise Harry Grant, but son Nathan was still burning about the penalty that denied his match winning field goal in the Storm's 22-18 golden point win over the Panthers. Cleary slotted a field goal in the 78th minute that would have seen his side win 19-18, but Grant played for a penalty by running into Moses Leota, who was in an illegal blocking position. Ashley Klein and the Bunker both ruled Leota had to be penalised under NRL rules, but it was a bitter pill for Cleary junior to swallow in his post match press conference. The reporter first asked Cleary what he made of the crucial penalty that allowed Grant to go on and score the match winning try in golden point 'Harry's too smart at both ends, that's pretty much it,' Cleary senior said. 'Nathan how did you see it?' the reporter asked. 'Tell the truth,' Cleary senior said. Cleary junior was visibly trying not to be salty, but couldn't hide his disappointment in the decision. 'If that was in the field of play and you run a block shape, it wouldn't be an obstruction because they ruled that out,' Cleary junior said. 'If you're defending a three-man and you play for the obstruction, then they don't want that in the game, but for some reason, it's different for a field goal. 'I thought the blocking rule was brought in, so then people wouldn't stand next to the play-the-ball. Moses wasn't in that position. 'I don't believe that everyone can get behind me on that field goal. And then essentially Harry played for it because he knew he was going to get the penalty. 'But I don't think Moses moved at all either, so it was a pretty frustrating.' The Panthers are some of the best exponents of the field goal in the game and it is something they rarely get wrong. However, Cleary believes this situation was unique in that it came off a linebreak, which made it hard for Leota to get out of the way. 'It was a bit different because it's sort of happened straight off a line break, so I just went into position,' Cleary explained. 'It wasn't your sort of standard field goal. I think that's what sort of makes it harder as well. 'It's after a linebreak, so Moses is there to take the next run. And then I'm not sure what he's meant to do. Like, I know that's a common cliche, but is he meant to then run through? 'But then if he runs through, he's a chance of taking people out. Do we expect him to get all the way behind the ball and then we've got no one to run it? 'So I don't know. I feel like it's a split second thing where I'm then calling, I want the ball to take the field goal. And Moses is there to take a run. And he didn't move. So I don't know. 'It's pretty frustrating. But at the end of the day, we did enough bad things to ourselves and lost that game. 'And refs calls, they go on your side sometimes and sometimes they're not, so we lost that game ourselves.' However, Grant believes he was only acting within the rules of the game as they currently stand. 'I think anyone in the game has seen that that's been policed numerous times and that's the rules in the game,' Grant said. 'Even the opposition boys, they were aware of it in the game and when it happened. If that's the rules we stick to it, if we want to change it come out during the week and change it. 'But I think anyone would agree that that's been policed numerous times throughout the year and hats off to the officials for policing it the same way. 'I think there's been numerous ocassions throughout the year where it's been awarded a penalty. 'There's probably some inconsistencies or confusion around it sometimes, but so long as that's the rule, it's black and white, take that forward. 'Even the players throughout on the field knew that they weren't allowed to be in that position. 'We all train for that, we all know the circumstances, we all know scenarios... everyone knows you're not allowed to be in that position and that's a hard one for sure but that's just what's been policed throughout the season.'
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Brisbane hunt elusive success without Reynolds
Brisbane have gone a staggering 456 days without a win without captain Adam Reynolds at the helm. Not since Magic Round in May last year have the Broncos tasted victory without their talismanic playmaker. On that occasion it was a field goal by back-up half Jock Madden that secured a 13-12 win over Manly. They then proceeded to lose six consecutive matches without Reynolds, who had a ruptured biceps. The 35-year-old is out of action again until at least the final round clash with Melbourne with a hamstring injury and has been replaced by 348-gamer Ben Hunt in the No.7 jersey. Five-eighth Ezra Mam, also nursing a hamstring complaint, is not due back until at least the second week of the finals if the sixth-placed Broncos get that far. He will be replaced at No.6 by versatile hooker Billy Walters against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night. Hunt took the Broncos to the 2015 grand final playing halfback and has started in the halves in more than 250 NRL games. The 35-year-old is a more than capable replacement for Reynolds. But the fact remains the Broncos are a more successful team with their skipper in the side. Since Reynolds' arrival from South Sydney in 2022, they have won 59 per cent of games and 47 per cent without him. Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs insisted the Michael Maguire-coached side could still get the job done without Reynolds and the electric Mam in the team. "We have players who can slot straight in there. It's next man up," Staggs said. "I still have confidence in our boys to do the job and go out there and make the finals. "Benny Hunt has played almost 350 games and most of them have been in the halves. "Madge (Maguire) signed Billy at the Wests Tigers as a five-eighth and we can use him as well. "To be honest, I like Billy in the halves. It gives him more running options and he is crafty. His old man (Kevin Walters) was pretty good there and Bill is a player who can step in there and do his job. "I am looking forward to seeing what he can do and help that left edge." While the absence of Reynolds and Mam is a blow, the Broncos are better placed than most clubs to adapt. "Hunty and Billy can play the same role Ezra and Reynolds have been playing," Staggs said. "I just think losing our two main halves, we don't need to change anything. "We just need to stick to what we know best and that's our game plan at the Broncos. We don't need to play an individual sport and try and win a game on one play. "The players that will slot in know what their role is." Brisbane have gone a staggering 456 days without a win without captain Adam Reynolds at the helm. Not since Magic Round in May last year have the Broncos tasted victory without their talismanic playmaker. On that occasion it was a field goal by back-up half Jock Madden that secured a 13-12 win over Manly. They then proceeded to lose six consecutive matches without Reynolds, who had a ruptured biceps. The 35-year-old is out of action again until at least the final round clash with Melbourne with a hamstring injury and has been replaced by 348-gamer Ben Hunt in the No.7 jersey. Five-eighth Ezra Mam, also nursing a hamstring complaint, is not due back until at least the second week of the finals if the sixth-placed Broncos get that far. He will be replaced at No.6 by versatile hooker Billy Walters against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night. Hunt took the Broncos to the 2015 grand final playing halfback and has started in the halves in more than 250 NRL games. The 35-year-old is a more than capable replacement for Reynolds. But the fact remains the Broncos are a more successful team with their skipper in the side. Since Reynolds' arrival from South Sydney in 2022, they have won 59 per cent of games and 47 per cent without him. Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs insisted the Michael Maguire-coached side could still get the job done without Reynolds and the electric Mam in the team. "We have players who can slot straight in there. It's next man up," Staggs said. "I still have confidence in our boys to do the job and go out there and make the finals. "Benny Hunt has played almost 350 games and most of them have been in the halves. "Madge (Maguire) signed Billy at the Wests Tigers as a five-eighth and we can use him as well. "To be honest, I like Billy in the halves. It gives him more running options and he is crafty. His old man (Kevin Walters) was pretty good there and Bill is a player who can step in there and do his job. "I am looking forward to seeing what he can do and help that left edge." While the absence of Reynolds and Mam is a blow, the Broncos are better placed than most clubs to adapt. "Hunty and Billy can play the same role Ezra and Reynolds have been playing," Staggs said. "I just think losing our two main halves, we don't need to change anything. "We just need to stick to what we know best and that's our game plan at the Broncos. We don't need to play an individual sport and try and win a game on one play. "The players that will slot in know what their role is." Brisbane have gone a staggering 456 days without a win without captain Adam Reynolds at the helm. Not since Magic Round in May last year have the Broncos tasted victory without their talismanic playmaker. On that occasion it was a field goal by back-up half Jock Madden that secured a 13-12 win over Manly. They then proceeded to lose six consecutive matches without Reynolds, who had a ruptured biceps. The 35-year-old is out of action again until at least the final round clash with Melbourne with a hamstring injury and has been replaced by 348-gamer Ben Hunt in the No.7 jersey. Five-eighth Ezra Mam, also nursing a hamstring complaint, is not due back until at least the second week of the finals if the sixth-placed Broncos get that far. He will be replaced at No.6 by versatile hooker Billy Walters against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night. Hunt took the Broncos to the 2015 grand final playing halfback and has started in the halves in more than 250 NRL games. The 35-year-old is a more than capable replacement for Reynolds. But the fact remains the Broncos are a more successful team with their skipper in the side. Since Reynolds' arrival from South Sydney in 2022, they have won 59 per cent of games and 47 per cent without him. Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs insisted the Michael Maguire-coached side could still get the job done without Reynolds and the electric Mam in the team. "We have players who can slot straight in there. It's next man up," Staggs said. "I still have confidence in our boys to do the job and go out there and make the finals. "Benny Hunt has played almost 350 games and most of them have been in the halves. "Madge (Maguire) signed Billy at the Wests Tigers as a five-eighth and we can use him as well. "To be honest, I like Billy in the halves. It gives him more running options and he is crafty. His old man (Kevin Walters) was pretty good there and Bill is a player who can step in there and do his job. "I am looking forward to seeing what he can do and help that left edge." While the absence of Reynolds and Mam is a blow, the Broncos are better placed than most clubs to adapt. "Hunty and Billy can play the same role Ezra and Reynolds have been playing," Staggs said. "I just think losing our two main halves, we don't need to change anything. "We just need to stick to what we know best and that's our game plan at the Broncos. We don't need to play an individual sport and try and win a game on one play. "The players that will slot in know what their role is."
