Sydney Roosters youngster Billy Smith has suffered a suspected ACL tear at training on Tuesday, less than a fortnight after releasing Latrell Mitchell to arch-rivals, the Rabbitohs.

It’s a cruel blow for the 20 year-old outside back, after a 2019 season that saw him make his NRL debut, scoring two tries in two games.

Smith had been talked up all pre-season by Roosters officials during the Latrell saga, with his spot at left centre nearly guaranteed.

However, the injury will likely see Brett Morris shift to left centre, and English international Ryan Hall coming onto the right wing.

While not a noted centre, Morris did score a hat-trick in the position there in last year’s World Club Challenge due to Latrell Mitchell opting to represent the Indigenous All Stars instead of the English clash.

Pre-season rumour mills have been in overdrive this off-season about Shark’s junior Bronson Xerri potentially joining best mate Kyle Flanagan at the Chooks for the 2020 season.

But with Cronulla looking to re-sign the teenager on a mammoth five-year contract, there’s another Shark that the Roosters may target.

And let’s just say, he’s close to Roosters’ back Brett Morris.

It appears following the signing of Jesse Ramien back from Newcastle, the Sharks centre-pairing of Xerri and Ramien will banish Josh Morris to the wing.

While he does turn 34 years old in 2020, Morris was back to his best last season at Cronulla, even earning an Origin recall in Game I.

The potential of winning a premiership with his brother in Bondi would be a fantastic swan song for Josh as well as brother Brett, who was close to the Clive Churchill medal after his performance in last year’s Grand Final.

Cronulla would no doubt be willing to release Morris, freeing up a decent chunk of money to alleviate salary cap pressure, and open a spot for Ronaldo Mulitalo or Sione Katoa in the backline.

Alex Johnston and Adam Doueihi are also potential recruitment targets, with the Newcastle Knights also sniffing around the Rabbitohs’ duo.

Scans are expected to confirm Smith’s ACL injury in the next 24 hours, with the outside back having torn his ACL previously in 2018.

50 COMMENTS

  1. Well that certainly sucks the big one 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩

  2. Won’t be season ending GNR typical media making things much worse just to sensationalise their story/agenda. Not going soft here just can’t stand the media and how they go about things.

  4. bb, usually a 9 month recovery without rushing back so that would be season ending. Very risky rushing back after 6-7 months as another breakdown could be career defining

  5. Red not doubting the seriousness of that type of injury just if it is that at all. The media love to blow things out of proportion and automatically jump to the worst case conclusion. Maybe not actually saying but heavily implying in order to get more clicks. Wish I could say I’ve never fallen for it, its very irritating.

  9. Yep you’re right Toddy….he only got over it last year from a 2018 injury, not sure if it was the same leg.
    Ok I’m just gonna accept that my chooks will not be playing a left centre this year…((12 man team for 2020) DOH!

  14. It’s not his ACL.
    His hair replacement treatment has backfired and will need 6 months Ahley and Martin intensive treatment.
    Was a dud anyway.

  16. Seriously, the only reason this dud nobody is getting any attention is because dopey Robinson has been hailing him as the next Latrell Mitchell.
    Can’t run can’t pass and still having Sam Burgess nightmares.
    Who really gives a stuff?

  19. Now will have more time to spend on facebook again after his bullcrap denial had nothing to do with the Sam Burgess scandal.
    Karma has worked its wonders.

  21. So what I’m reading is even Souths supporters Toddy and Penso are posting decent comments about a guy who has just suffered a really nasty injury….and yet TwentyOne just cant help being a complete dickhead.
    You’re the type of dooshbag 21, that gives your club a bad name….hang your head in shame.

  23. TwentyOne January 22, 2020 at 12:17 am
    Morris bros v Jimmy the jet and The Fox
    🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

    id love to see that… Morris’s way too strong. too much heart and soul for brain dead Jet and Mitchell

  27. Kelby, chookstir, Mole…..get Sitili into some sprint training and give him a run at left centre…what do ya reckon? He’d run right over the top of roberts 😂🤣😂😂

  29. Shall I remind the hypocrite Wombats on here about their comments regarding Latrell Mitchell suggesting injury and mental health issues for starters?
    Who are the real dogs on here?
    On your bikes you silly stains.
    I honestly dont see why the fuss over a proven dud if the 1 game he had is anything to go by where was ragdolled by Sam Burgess.
    The concern should be Keary and his concussion issues who we all know one more knock and its all over red rooster for him and the stain’s season.

  30. The Great Northern Rooster January 22, 2020 at 10:20 am
    “Kelby, chookstir, Mole…..get Sitili into some sprint training and give him a run at left centre…what do ya reckon? He’d run right over the top of roberts ”

    What are you on about TGNR?,
    Havent you being paying attention?
    Your coach Mr Potato Head has told us all he has unveiled a great talent in Nick Davis and will show the world in the Nine’s what a great judge of talent he is.
    There’s your secret replacement right there apparently and lets see how Wobbo fares with this one.
    Look forward to it.

  31. Adamhoward January 10, 2020 at 8:29 pm
    “Thank god the halfwiit Mitchell is out of our hands. What a “Drama Queen” in all my years following football I have never seen the dirty bludging tactic of draining money from the Roosters over the off season like Mitchell. Usually a person on the street might here… hey brother you got a smoke there cuz? Or lend me your wallet? But never blatant thieving from a goonie drinker like Mitchell has shown all of Australia. Thank God the swiine does not sing the Australian Anthem. He is no Aussie. Bwahahaha.”

  32. The woody stable do write some disgusting things, but the facts are this is a young man who is dealing with a potentially career ending injury deserves a little bit of compassion. Long term injuries sometimes lead to mental health problems. Twentyone your above the silly dribbling that the woody stable produces

  34. Fair enough to bag someone if they get suspended for dirty play, but it’s pretty low to gloat over an injury that causes pain and months of rehab. You’re being a gronk 21.

  35. Chookstir I’m not surprised you smell a dog, after all you are a rooster we all know you guys do more then just smell the dog😂

  36. toddy123
    January 22, 2020 at 1:36 pm
    “Chookstir I’m not surprised you smell a dog, after all you are a rooster we all know you guys do more then just smell the dog”😂

    Forgot about that🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
    Good one. Pay that Toddy.

  40. ….was that like greg inglis (done for DUI) and sam burgess (beating up on his woman)….BOTH team leaders and mentors???

  41. Yes Toddy it was a tough time for the stain sombreros and up there with Latrell walking away and coming home to Souths.
    The roosters are still in meltdown as you can see.
    But tougher times are coming shortly with the stripping of 2 premierships.

  42. I hear the roosters arranged for a press conference for the signing of Nick Davis to match the Latrell Mitchell signing major event that the whole NRL watched with enjoyment.
    Unfortunately for Nick no one turned up except for one old dude dressed up as a wood duck.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  43. Delusional Brennsy and his Mole52 wife are continuing their crying over Latrell.
    Politis sent arse lick yes men robbo and fittler to Taree as we all know to beg Latrell to stay with the toxic stains but all they came back with was a couple of Taree fridge magnets for their wives and pizza stained shirts 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  44. Good to see Willy Smith’s hair issue isnt as bad as 1st thought and should be healed of the mangy hair look sooner than later according to Ashley and Martin intensive therapy unit I overheard a couple in conversation.

  45. We all know Russell Crowe has made a fantastic huge call on Latrell in another thread.
    I heard Nick Politis also made a huge call as well and Latrell hung up on him.
    Bwaaahhhaaahhhaaaahh!!!!

  46. The Great Northern Rooster January 22, 2020 at 7:16 pm
    “….was that like greg inglis (done for DUI) and sam burgess (beating up on his woman)….BOTH team leaders and mentors???”

    Is this your attempt to 1 up Toddy123 on his hilarious post?
    Don’t bother, way off the mark just like wanting us to believe you are Koori. 🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐

  47. Excuse me, you arrogant little pr**k 21…I AM Koori….I follow Easts because of the greatest Koori player ever in league – Artie- my mobs hero.
    Soufs aren’t the only team that has indigenous players…
    So here are some lovely stats to put in your crack pipe and smoke, you moron.

    Let’s see. Premierships since 72
    Easts 6 souths 1*
    Grand finals since 72
    Easts 12 souths 1
    Minor premierships since 72
    Easts 9 souths 1.
    Club championships since 72
    Easts 4 souths 1.
    World club champions since 72
    Easts 4 (soon to be 5) souths 1*

  48. The Great Northern Rooster Pretend Koori,
    Can I suggest you stick with your non indigenous redneck mates in the sookpen where you can continue your envy for everything Souths as half your thread topics seem to be devoted to.
    There are more posts in there about Souths than the Warren.
    If that isn’t respect and envy then I give up.

  49. I’d say you’re the envious/jealous one…going into a roosters blog…says a lot about your psyche ya DH.
    You’re a racist dog 21, and I’m simply not going to acknowledge you anymore.

Comments are closed.