Brandon Smith’s tough first campaign at the Sydney Roosters has hit another hurdle with the Kiwi international set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
The hooker broke his thumb during his side’s heart-breaking Round 12 loss to the Dragons and left the field around the hour-mark when he complained of losing feeling in his hand after reeling out of a tackle.
How long is Brandon Smith out for the Roosters?
“It’s quite a long break, so I think I’ll be out for two months,” Smith said on the Jam & Cheese podcast after having had surgery on his right hand.
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“I did quite a job on it. It was broken in like three different places.
“She’s got a lot of screws. The x-ray is pretty weird looking- there’s a lot of screws left, right and centre.
“But it gives me time to focus, I guess, on my game and focus on myself.
“Two months is what they think but hopefully we can cut that down a bit.
“I haven’t seen anyone [from the Roosters] yet. I got surgery yesterday, or the day before yesterday, and now I’ve just got to wait and see… but I broke my hand and played in eight days.”
The setback continues a miserable recent run for Smith after he was taken to hospital for a neck injury following Sydney’s win over the Warriors only weeks earlier.
He left the pitch at Mt Smart Stadium as trainers tended to his neck and face on the sidelines.
It was later revealed he was rushed to hospital as a precaution but was later cleared of any serious damage.
Braith Anasta questions the recruitment of Brandon Smith to the Roosters
Trent Robinson has repeatedly defended the form of the 26-year-old after his high-profile switch from Melbourne to Bondi in the off-season.
"He has brought a lot of energy for us,” Robinson said after Smith’s performance against the Warriors.
“It takes a while to understand a new club system ... he's started to imprint his runs and kicks into the game.”
However, Smith has had plenty of critics this season with Braith Anasta declaring that some of the Roosters’ struggles had been down to the limitations of the Kiwi out of dummy-half.
“I said it 12 months ago, maybe even longer when he signed - Brandon Smith is a great player, but I think he’s a lock,” Anasta said on NRL 360.
“He’s a runner of the football. His service out of dummy-half is not where it needs to be for a premier nine.”
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Smith has scored two tries and provided one assist for his new club as injuries and poor form have made it a difficult transition period since departing from the Storm.
He has featured in over 60 minutes in just half of his appearances for the Roosters to date and has often struggled to provide a spark of momentum around the ruck which was expected of him.
“Smith went to a premier club where they needed good service to running halves to get the ball out in front and over the advantage line,” Anasta continued.
“Because of that not happening they’ve brought in Joey Manu [at five-eighth] because Sam Walker was struggling, who is a runner of the ball.
“You’ve got [Luke] Keary who is a runner of the ball. No one is straightening up the attack and creating opportunities by getting defenders to commit. Therefore, that’s taking [James] Tedesco out of play.”
“Teddy is taking hit ups and having to go looking for the ball because he’s not getting it with time and space.
“[Joseph] Suaalii is copping it but he’s not getting quality ball either, so it’s kind of been a domino effect.
“For the first time in a long time, they haven’t got their recruitment right.”
