Luckless Brandon Smith faces more time on the sidelines after injuring his knee in his comeback match as South Sydney copped a 30-12 trouncing from Manly at Brookvale on Sunday.
Smith, making his debut for Souths and playing for the first time since he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last September, while at the Sydney Roosters, fell awkwardly in a tackle by Manly prop Matthew Lodge five minutes from full-time.
He limped from the field in obvious discomfort and Souths coach Wayne Bennett said afterwards the Kiwi international had suffered suspected medial ligament damage, which could rule him out for “six to eight weeks”.
Asked if he had any concerns about the tackle, Bennett replied: “It’s up to them [the match review panel] to decide, but we’re not playing with a lot of luck, and we didn’t get any there from that decision, either … I’m frustrated by a lot of things right now, but it’s not going to do me no good.”
Smith’s latest injury was to his right knee – the same one that required reconstructive surgery last year.
Asked about Smith’s mood, Bennett said: “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.”
Brandon Smith after being injured in his comeback match.Credit: Getty Images
Manly coach Anthony Seibold: “I haven’t had a look at it, but it wasn’t a penalty from that one. I’m not sure. I’d have to have a look at it.”
Smith’s injury was another body blow for Souths, who slumped to their sixth consecutive defeat and remain 16th on the competition ladder, six points adrift of the eight with seven rounds to play.
They will probably need to win at least six of their remaining fixtures if they hope to qualify for the post-season.
Manly, in contrast, have now banked back-to-back wins and climbed from 10th on the points table to eighth.
“It was a good step in the right direction tonight,” Seibold said.
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans added: “It was great to steady the ship in that regard. Results wise, it’s great to be back in the eight, with back-to-back wins.
“As Seibs touched on, there were probably a couple of key areas we had to revisit and get back to the type of footy that fits in finals footy. The last few weeks have been a really good step for us.”
Playing in front of their club legends and a bumper crowd of 17,298 on Old Boys Day, the Sea Eagles led 14-0 at half-time after two tries from Reuben Garrick and one from Tom Trbojevic.
Manly celebrate a try against Souths on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
Manly extended their lead two minutes after the resumption when Trbojevic skirted across field and zoomed through a gap to score his second try of the game, and only his third of the season.
They surged further ahead in the 52nd minute when Cherry-Evans scored, celebrating the try by pulling up a corner post and pretending to use it as a walking stick.
Mid-season signing Smith started the game at hooker for Souths, his first appearance since September 1 last season.
The Kiwi international opened with a 20-minute stint before he was interchanged. He returned to the fray for the final 20 minutes, this time playing at lock, and had a hand in Souths’ first try, scored by back-rower Tallis Duncan.
Duncan was in again three minutes later, making it back-to-back braces, after he also scored a double in the 50-28 loss to the Dolphins in Souths’ previous game.
A 77th-minute try by Souths winger Isaiah Tass added a touch of respectability to the scoreline.
Centre Tolutau Koula, who was a constant threat to Souths’ defence, was rewarded with a runaway try after a fumble in the 78th minute.
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