Brandon Smith tells critics to leave Matt Lodge alone after hip drop tackle sidelines him again

Brandon Smith’s return to NRL ended in injury once more, but the star was quick to shut down ugly claims about his rival.

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.

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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.

Smith limped down the tunnel at Brookvale after the tackle from Lodge. Photo: Fox Sports.

“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 with ice on his knee after the match was in good spirits despite the incident with Lodge (R). Photo: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images.

Smith also took to socials to take the heat off Lodge

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.

Turbo dedicates his try to Diogo Jota. Photo: Instagram

The sporting world was rocked when Jota passed away last week after a car crash in Spain. Photo: Oli Scarff/AFP).

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.

Originally published as Brandon Smith tells critics to leave Matt Lodge alone after hip drop tackle sidelines him again