NRL finals 2024: Meet Sandon Smith, the face of the Rooster’s five-year injury crisis
While their rivals prepare to field full strength sides for the finals, the Roosters have been unable to get their best team on the park since 2019. And Sandon Smith is the face of their unique crisis.
Sandon Smith is many things to the Sydney Roosters.
He’s the face of the club’s five-year injury curse.
The “Central Coast boy with a bit of s**t” in him.
And, on Friday night, their replacement halfback charged with taking down the NRL’s best player, Nathan Cleary.
Smith will run out onto BlueBet Stadium with the No.7 jumper on his back, following a serious knee injury to starting halfback Sam Walker, who joins teammates Brandon Smith, Victor Radley and the suspended Jared Waerea-Hargreaves on the sidelines.
It continues a horror run for the Roosters as Fox Sports Lab data reveals coach Trent Robinson hasn’t been able to field a full-strength side since the 2019 grand final win over Canberra.
FULL STRENGTH RIVALS
It makes the finals series an ominous task for the Roosters, with the other top-three sides – Melbourne, Penrith and Cronulla – at full-strength, according to Fox Sports Lab.
“For sorting out full strength, we have looked at the best 15 players for each team, once you get down to the last couple of players, we have deemed them to be interchangeable,” Fox Sports Lab’s Aaron Wallace said.
Panthers captain Cleary, Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen and Manly talisman Tom Trbojevic lead a host of big-name returns that make the Roosters’ finals task even greater.
“Through injuries and suspensions, the Roosters haven’t played with their best 15 or 16 players since that win over the Raiders in the 2019 decider,” Wallace said.
“Every side has injuries and it’s rare that teams play at full strength but to go that long without doing it once is ridiculous.
“Losing Sam Walker, Brandon Smith and Victor Radley two weeks out from the finals puts the icing on that cake.
“Sandon Smith is the player the club said would play five-eighth next year so this gives him a chance now to prove their faith in him.”
While the Roosters scramble to cover key losses, the Panthers will field their first full-strength side since Round 2, while the Storm have their best team available since Round 6.
Their other finals rivals are fit at the right time of the year with Canterbury (Josh Addo-Carr), Manly (Jason Saab), North Queensland (Zac Laybutt) and Newcastle (Jacob Saifiti and Enari Tuala) combined are only missing a handful of their first-choice players.
TOUGH COAST KID
Gosford-born Smith, a Kincumber Colts junior, is preparing for his first finals game as a starting halfback after Walker ruptured his ACL in a Round 26 game against Canberra.
Smith, 21, was ushered into the Roosters’ Central Coast pathways system at Harold Matthews’ level before transitioning into the club’s SG Ball and Jersey Flegg.
“Robbo refers to that ‘Central Coast boy with a bit of s**t in you’”, Smith said.
“As a seven out there, the general, you need to have a bit of s**t in you and I have that in me.
“That means you don’t back down from anyone – if it’s Nathan Cleary or one of the big guys, never back down and always go after it, especially on the rugby league field. Being one of the younger, smaller guys, it doesn’t matter, I’m always going to go after it and I will bring that s**t.
“I’m not sure it’s true but ‘Robbo’ has it in his head that us guys on The Central Coast have a bit of rat about us, a bit s**t in us, but he loves that.
“I embrace it. I love being from The Central Coast. You need that bit of s**t in you to tell these big boys (how to get around) the park.
“Finals series are where champions are made and it’s an opportunity for me to really cement myself – and see where I’m at as a player in this league – and I think I can do that. It adds more pressure playing for the Roosters but it’s a privilege to have this opportunity.”
KEARY PRAISE
Halves partner Luke Keary also spoke of Smith’s toughness.
“(Central Coast) is the west on the beach. Sandon’s a tough kid, he’s hard and he competes – that’s what we like about him. He’s not that superstar kid but he’s built on toughness and competitiveness,” Keary said.
“He will go hard for us and that’s what we need. He just gets on with it. He’s played the last 20 games in the middle so let him go. We have a heap of trust and belief in young Sandon.”
READY FOR PRESSURE TEST
Smith has played two finals games off the bench last year and started at halfback in last week’s win over South Sydney.
“Coming off the bench in 14 is probably a lot less pressure and I haven’t had to experience this pressure going into the finals as a halfback yet. It comes with a lot of pressure but that’s always a privilege,” he said.
“It’s about embracing that pressure and not letting it overtake you. I just try and play my game. Rugby league, all of us have played it for 10, 15 years, we know how to play the game. We train every day at high intensity.
“It’s a great opportunity and I’m ready for it. I have felt the belief in me from all the coaches and boys. We have full belief we can go out and do a job on Friday.
“It’s happened very quickly. I didn’t know if I would be playing in this finals series and where I would be playing and then Sammy went down in an instant and I automatically knew I would be stepping up into that role.
“I have been training with the first grade side for a few years now and got my reps in reserve grade. I have had a couple of games in the halves in the NRL.
“The support around me, guys like (part-time coaching consultant) Cooper Cronk, obviously ‘Robbo’ (Robinson), ‘Kez’ (Keary) and even Sammy as well. They have helped me along the way. I feel like I’m ready for it now.”
Smith refuted suggestions he was too inexperienced to bark orders at senior players like James Tedesco and Joey Manu.
“They actually want you to tell them where to go and what to do,” Smith said.
“They actually like it, I’ve learnt that over the years. I have full confidence in telling the guys what to do. Penrith at Penrith is one of the toughest challenges but it’s all about us this week. We’re a tight bunch.”
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