Self-imposed booze ban helps hard-luck Rooster heal
George Clarke |
It’s not lost on luckless centre Billy Smith that he has only played in two finals games for the Sydney Roosters since his NRL career began in 2019.
And in his only September win – against Cronulla in 2023 – he played close to 40 minutes with a broken jaw, in what captain James Tedesco described as one of the bravest performances he’d seen in a Roosters jersey.
“I’ve got a plate put in a few years back that’s still holding strong,” Smith told AAP ahead of Sunday’s qualification final with Penrith.
“I’m not super familiar this time of year, but it’s funny with so many young guys around here, I do feel like I’ve been around a long time and it’s a really exciting time.”
Smith is 26, but still only has 59 NRL games under his belt.
He has been restricted to just 14 appearances this season after suffering a concussion when he fell off an e-bike and wasn’t wearing a helmet.
The local junior made his debut in 2019 – the year of the Roosters’ last premiership – but has suffered three anterior cruciate ligament injuries and missed the entirety of the 2024 NRL campaign after undergoing ankle surgery.
Smith says the simple reason he has been able to stay on the field is through swearing off the beer.
“I don’t really drink through the year, maybe if we have a bye I might have a couple, but alcohol was one of the sacrifices I made so I could (stay at this level),” Smith said.
“I felt there were things away from footy that I did when I was young that weren’t helping me.
“I wasn’t an alcoholic or ate heaps of bad food, but I thought if I’d give this lifestyle – our window as players is a short one – I wanted to exhaust all options.
“I enjoy the quiet lifestyle, eating healthy, not drinking and I have things away from footy like pilates that keep my body in check.”
Smith has declared his intention to play for England at this year’s World Cup – both his parents were born there – if he can get through the finals unscathed.
He insists the Roosters will not be intimidated by the Panthers, who boast a 12-2 record in the head-to-head battles between the two sides since 2020.
“We’re expecting a bit of a war … it’s death by a thousand cuts with them,” Smith said.
“That’s the style we can play as well, and we pride ourselves on that long game, and keeping the ball alive and strangling our opponents.”
AAP