NRL finals teams: Roosters cop another big blow as Billy Smith sidelined with jaw injury

Young Sydney Roosters centre Billy Smith has been lauded after producing one of the bravest acts in the foundation club’s long and proud history.

Billy Smith has been ruled out of Friday’s clash with Melbourne due to a fractured jaw.

Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco has hailed the toughness of Billy Smith after the out-of-luck centre played more than 30 minutes with the broken jaw, hailing it as one of the bravest acts in the club’s long and proud history.

Smith’s jaw was broken in a tackle by Cronulla forward Tim Hazleton on Saturday night but rather than leave the field, the Roosters centre continued to throw himself into the fray as he helped his undermanned side keep their premiership dream alive.

Sadly, Smith’s own year ended when the full-time siren sounded. His heroics, however, won’t be forgotten any time soon by his teammates.

Asked whether Smith’s deeds could be compared with South Sydney legend John Sattler famously playing a grand final with a broken jaw, Tedesco said: “He still took hit ups, he still took those play one.

“He made some big tackles. If you watch that second half, some of the plays he came up with were massive. There was no complaining.

“He just did what he had to do. I don’t know if it will get talked about in the same context as (Sattler). From our point of view, it is one of the bravest we have seen for sure. That just shows the mentality of him.

Billy Smith after suffering a broken jaw against the Sharks. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“I think it is the mentality of the team – we will do whatever it takes to get the job done. To be able to play through that, a broken jaw, is pretty unbelievable.”

Smith’s season-ending injury adds to the litany of absences as the Roosters prepare to head to AAMI Park to take on the Storm.

The Roosters stocks were already thin but the hits kept coming at the weekend as boom young centre Robert Toia had another devastating setback in his comeback when he suffered a second torn ACL in his knee.

Smith will be sorely missed. His career has been littered with injury but he has strung together some games this season and shown he can be an elite centre.

“He has made a lot of changes off the field to get his body right,” Tedesco said.

The high hit on Billy Smith that resulted in a broken jaw.

Moment of impact on Billy Smith’s jaw.

“This is a contact one – it is hard to avoid. This year, he made a decision he was going to stay off the drink, his diet is real strict, he is doing a lot of breathing and mental work.

“He was like I am going to do everything I can to get myself on the field every week and be the best player he can be. He has stuck to it all year.

“He definitely has the potential to be one of the best centres in the game – he has shown that this year. I could tell it wasn’t great for him.

“Even after the game he was pretty sore and the boys were like ‘he will be right’. He was getting better and better every week for us.

“We have always said we just needed to get him on the field to show what he can do. He has definitely done that this year.

“He has been one of the form centres. He is going to get better and better. So it is a little setback for him – he has definitely had worse injuries. It’s disappointing he won’t be out there on Friday.”