‘There were some dark days’: Smith extends stay at Roosters after comeback
Billy Smith will remain at the Sydney Roosters a further two seasons as he looks to repay the club for standing by him during a three-year horror run with injuries.
Smith’s return is a feel-good story that has been overlooked in recent weeks because of COVID and “operation relocation”.
The 21-year-old ruptured the ACL in his left knee at the end of 2018, blew out his right knee at the start of 2020 – while being groomed to replace Latrell Mitchell at left centre – then required surgery after dislocating his right shoulder at training at the start of this year.
“It definitely wasn’t easy, and there were some pretty dark, dark days … But it makes the road to recovery so much sweeter,” Smith told the Herald before Friday’s clash with Newcastle.
“I’ve been back two weeks, but the plan is to play some consistent first grade now.
“After the injuries I’ve had, whenever you finish a game, there will always be stuff you’re pissed off about and things you know you could have done better, but to know you got through a game unscathed is a big plus.
Billy Smith will remain with the Sydney Roosters a further two years.Credit:Getty Images
“I’ve worked a lot on my mind stuff – I’ve worked hard on how to control my energy. You learn a bit about yourself when you’re down and out. But I’ve been lucky I’ve been surrounded by a lot of great people along the way.”
Smith would have been a target for rival clubs given he was off-contract at the end of the season, but he confirmed he was going nowhere until the end of 2023.
“I’ll be a Rooster, I’ve re-signed for the next couple of years,” he said.
“It was a pretty easy decision for me, the club has given me so much the last two-and-a-half years, I owe them and the best way to pay them back is play good footy. I want to repay the club and guys like ‘Robbo’ [Trent Robinson] who have put a lot of faith in me.”
The Bondi casualty ward has been bulging with key players the past couple of years, with recently retired skippers Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend, Brett Morris, Angus Crichton, Victor Radley, Sam Verrills and now Joseph Suaalii all suffering injuries.
Smith played two games at the end of 2018 and, more recently, came through two games against Canterbury and North Queensland. He has scored a try in all four NRL games.
He said he admired Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for leading the way and being a “beacon of strength”, while Crichton, a fellow Scots College graduate, had been “a human wrecking ball”.
Crichton is looking forward to the prospect of forging a left-edge combination with Smith.
“We’ve all had our injuries, he’s had them a bit more than most, and to get up and keep moving forward, his desire to play has never wavered and we’re proud to see him playing good footy now,” he said.
“He’s got the long arms and long legs and he’s pretty strong – he just works hard and does the little things right for the team.”
Smith kept his spot after Josh Morris was dropped for the Knights game because Robinson said he was “not up to his usual form”.
The Roosters welcome back rested skipper James Tedesco and Sio Siua Taukeiaho (hamstring). Newcastle have front-rower Daniel Saifiti (rib) back on deck, but lose David Klemmer because of concussion.
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