Tweet
In a double dose of potential good news for the Roosters, centre Billy Smith confirmed he would remain at Bondi for at least one more season.
Smith has been a standout since his return from an ACL injury – his third serious knee blow – but told this masthead the club had signed him for the 2023 season.
The former schoolboy rugby prodigy wants to build on his form, hopefully with Keary cleared to join him on the right edge.
“He’s so important to us, he’s not only a great player but a leader at our club, so fingers crossed it’s good news for him [with the scans],” Smith said on Monday morning.
“I looked at his face after the game and it was pretty swollen. If he’s out, it will be next man up.
“I debuted next to ‘Kez’, I’ve always loved playing outside him, and whenever he gets his hands on the ball, I push up outside him because he can create anything. I’m looking forward to building on that momentum.”
As for nailing down another one-year extension, Smith said: “They locked me in just before I came back [in May]. It’s just for next year. The club have been awesome to me.
“For them to say we want you for another year, before playing a game of footy, was pretty crazy for me.
“I didn’t expect it, but it goes to show the love and loyalty they have, and I’ll look to repay that faith over the next 18 months.
“I’ve always backed myself as a player, but I’m not where I want to be as a player – I want to find that good consistent form, and that comes with time.”
The Roosters’ win in the Hunter puts them just outside the top eight on points differential, but their cavalry continue to return.
Victor Radley is back from suspension for the Raiders clash, while Joseph Suaalii, who was a late scratching from media commitments on Monday, returns the following week from his own three-match ban.
Smith has been a standout since his return from an ACL injury – his third serious knee blow – but told this masthead the club had signed him for the 2023 season.
The former schoolboy rugby prodigy wants to build on his form, hopefully with Keary cleared to join him on the right edge.
“He’s so important to us, he’s not only a great player but a leader at our club, so fingers crossed it’s good news for him [with the scans],” Smith said on Monday morning.
“I looked at his face after the game and it was pretty swollen. If he’s out, it will be next man up.
“I debuted next to ‘Kez’, I’ve always loved playing outside him, and whenever he gets his hands on the ball, I push up outside him because he can create anything. I’m looking forward to building on that momentum.”
As for nailing down another one-year extension, Smith said: “They locked me in just before I came back [in May]. It’s just for next year. The club have been awesome to me.
“For them to say we want you for another year, before playing a game of footy, was pretty crazy for me.
“I didn’t expect it, but it goes to show the love and loyalty they have, and I’ll look to repay that faith over the next 18 months.
“I’ve always backed myself as a player, but I’m not where I want to be as a player – I want to find that good consistent form, and that comes with time.”
The Roosters’ win in the Hunter puts them just outside the top eight on points differential, but their cavalry continue to return.
Victor Radley is back from suspension for the Raiders clash, while Joseph Suaalii, who was a late scratching from media commitments on Monday, returns the following week from his own three-match ban.
Comment