South Sydney’s big-money recruit Brandon Smith injured, Matt Lodge escapes suspension for the tackle
Manly forward Matt Lodge will be free to play for the Sea Eagles after being cleared over the tackle that sidelined South Sydney hooker Brandon Smith with a knee injury.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Manly forward Matt Lodge will be free to play for the Sea Eagles’ against Melbourne in a fortnight after being cleared over the tackle that sidelined South Sydney hooker Brandon Smith.
Smith, making his return from a serious knee injury, is facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines after damaging his medial ligament in the second half of the Rabbitohs’ loss to Manly at 4 Pines Park.
After the game, Smith took to social media to defend Lodge, insisting the Sea Eagles enforcer had done nothing wrong.
The match review committee clearly agreed as they exonerated Lodge in a boost to Manly’s hopes of putting in a strong performance against Melbourne when they next play.
“So happy to be back,” Smith wrote on his Instagram story.
“Wasn’t how I wanted it to go back playing the game I love. Just want to make sure everyone understands Matt Lodge done 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.”
South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett was frustrated post-match.
“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.
“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.”
Injuries have been the story of South Sydney’s season, with their sixth-straight loss leaving them one rung off the bottom of the ladder.
While still a long way off from being determined, a wooden spoon would be an unwanted first for the master coach Bennett, who must be wondering what he did to deserve the Rabbitohs’ burgeoning casualty ward.
STAY OF EXECUTION
Anthony Seibold was a dead man walking a fortnight ago.
Yet, following Manly’s shellacking of South Sydney, the Sea Eagles now find themselves back in the NRL’s top eight.
How quickly things can change in rugby league.
While it took a quarter of the game for them to make a dent on the scoreboard, the Sea Eagles more than made up for it soon after with a flurry of points.
The much-maligned personnel changes looked to click for Seibold, with now winger Reuben Garrick and makeshift centre Tom Trbojevic each scoring a double to help Manly race out to a 20-point lead soon after halftime.
Trbojevic in particular earnt the praise of Seibold, who confirmed he is considering making the usual fullback’s move to the front line permanent.
“My gut feel is the way Tom played was another step in the right direction. The way he’s been able to inject himself on both sides of the field is something not many other centres can do, with the impact he can have,” Seibold said.
“The work we have put in over the last fortnight has been important in getting the results. I’m always thinking how we can improve our team so we’ll continue to look at how we can grow.”
Two tries in quick succession for Souths centre Tallis Duncan midway through the second half and a four-pointer at the death for winger Isaiah Taas proved nothing but consolations for the Rabbitohs.
While the Sea Eagles will be disappointed with their efforts in the final 20 minutes, the real litmus test will come after their next-up bye with games to come against three top four outfits in Melbourne, Bulldogs and Canberra.
Of concern for the Sea Eagles is the immediate future of Jason Saab who was taking from the field with an ankle injury midway through the second half.
More Coverage
Originally published as South Sydney’s big-money recruit Brandon Smith injured, Matt Lodge escapes suspension for the tackle
Kiwi academy will spark a rugby league turf war
Another Queensland derby is in the books, but it’s the arrival of a premiership rival in one of south east Queensland’s most fertile regions which could become the hotbed of league’s next turf war.
Warriors infiltrate Broncos heartland armed with poaching program
The Warriors have launched a trans-Tasman assault on the Broncos after setting up a poaching program one of rugby league’s most fertile breeding grounds.