South Sydney’s Brandon Smith Faces Another Month on the Sidelines
South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Brandon Smith is set to miss a month of NRL action due to a recurring calf injury, marking another setback in what has been a challenging season for the player. The injury comes at a time when the team is preparing for a crucial match against their former side, Newcastle, and with new recruit Adam Elliott stepping into the spotlight.
Smith had been performing exceptionally well since his return from a pre-season calf injury in round six. However, he re-injured himself during last week’s victory over Melbourne, which was a significant win for the Rabbitohs. Initially, the team remained optimistic about the severity of the injury, with coach Wayne Bennett including Smith in his extended squad for the upcoming away game. Despite this, Smith did not participate in Saturday’s captain’s run and is now expected to be sidelined for an additional month. This follows a difficult 2022 season where knee injuries limited him to just five games.
“He’s pretty disappointed, to be honest with you, he’s out for another month,” Bennett said. “He loves to play and he brings a lot to the team. But we all have our disappointments so he’s got to handle it.”
Meanwhile, new recruit Adam Elliott is preparing to make his long-awaited return to the field. Elliott trained with the team on Saturday and is set to be promoted from Bennett’s extended squad to the bench for his first game since May of last year. A biceps injury had hindered Elliott’s final season with the Knights, and subsequent calf problems delayed his transition to Souths, where he signed a one-year deal over the summer.
“He kept ringing me … He wanted to be here, so I’m happy for him to be. He’s been very good,” Bennett said. “Adam hasn’t played for the latter period of last year and we’re seven or eight weeks into the season and he’s getting his first game. I admire them (players) for how they persevere and want to be back and playing with their teammates.”
The Rabbitohs are also seeing a number of key players return from injury, including Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best, Dylan Lucas, Greg Marzhew, and Tyson Frizell. This adds depth and strength to the team as they prepare for their upcoming match.
Talismanic co-captain Kalyn Ponga is back from a hamstring issue and will make his first appearance since round two. His return is a significant boost for the team as he continues his efforts to reclaim the Queensland fullback jersey.
“He’s a handful, he’s a very good player,” Bennett said. “Nobody’s ever owned the game, you always find a way to minimise their opportunities, but at the end of the day, he’ll make some that most players can’t make. You’ve just got to try and keep those to a minimum. If you can do that, you’ll probably manage the rest of the team.”
