‘Leave him alone’: Matt Lodge not charged by match review committee for tackle that could end Brandon Smith’s season

Brandon Smith was adamant that Matt Lodge’s tackle was an accident, and the match review committee has given its verdict.

Sea Eagles veteran Matt Lodge has avoided a charge for a tackle that may have ended Brandon Smith’s season, with the prop forward receiving support from the injured star who was adamant there was “nothing wrong” with the contact.

Smith suffered suspected medial ligament damage to his right knee, with early fears that he could miss 6-8 weeks in what was his first game back from an ACL injury that ended his 2024 campaign.

The former Rooster made the move to South Sydney earlier this season and was five minutes away from getting through his first match when he was caught awkwardly in a tackle close to the line.

Brandon Smith suffered a suspected MCL injury - contact mechanism on outside of lower leg fairly textbook for MCL/syndesmosis damage.

Early assessments from the Rabbitohs suggest he will miss 6-8 weeks - likely moderate to high grade injury. Rough in his first game back. pic.twitter.com/JoEL09EiwZ

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 6, 2025

Smith knew something was wrong immediately, with play stopped as the club’s medical staff helped him off the field where he limped up the tunnel.

No penalty was given at the time, and Lodge hasn’t been charged for dangerous contact despite plenty of people thinking he had performed a hip-drop tackle.

Smith, however, posted on social media that Lodge had done nothing wrong.

“So happy to be back,” Smith posted on Instagram on Sunday night.

“Wasn’t how I wanted it to go, but back playing the game I love.

“Just want to make sure everyone understands Matt Lodge done (sic) nothing wrong. It was an accident.

“We are friends, and if you watch, 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.”

Brandon Smith and Matt Lodge caught up after the game. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

Lodge’s weight landed on the ground before his upper body appeared to pin Smith’s leg, which caused the injury.

The match review committee looked at the incident and deemed the tackle didn’t meet the criteria of a hip drop, with Souths coach Wayne Bennett not overly pleased with the call on Sunday night.

“It’s up to (the NRL) to decide, but we’re not playing with a lot of luck, and we didn’t get any there from that decision either,” Bennett said, having voiced his frustrations over hip-drop inconsistencies earlier this year.

“I’m frustrated by a lot of things right now, but it’s not going to do me any good.

“He’s happy that it’s only six to eight weeks instead of eight months. At least he can see the light at the end of the tunnel this time.”

There were no charges from Sunday’s matches.

Originally published as ‘Leave him alone’: Matt Lodge not charged by match review committee for tackle that could end Brandon Smith’s season