Comeback kid sets the tone for Roosters in Brisbane ambush

With two spectacular first half tries – as well as a stint in the sin bin – Billy Smith was the name on everyone's lips after the Roosters produced a stunning 26-16 upset against the Broncos.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson praised his centre for the way he “set the tone” in just his second week back from long-term hip and ankle issues, the latest in a long list of injuries that forced him to miss the entire 2024 season.

“We just said he set the tone there off that high ball catch and that grubber kick … if you don’t chase as hard or you not have the skill to get that ball down … it's just the intensity that he trains with every day and prepares with and gets rewards,” Robinson said.

“Billy means a lot to us at the club and he's definitely fought through a lot and we've lived that through with him.”

Smith, who also scored in his comeback game in Round 5 against the Rabbitohs last week, said he was grateful to be back doing what he loved and to have the support of his club. 

“I'm just taking it week-by-week, but it is nice to be back,” Smith told NRL.com.

“Every time I put this jersey on, I just want to win and I just want to compete on everything and that's what those two tries were about, was just about competing on every play.

"If you put yourself in the picture enough, good things will happen and I was lucky enough to come up with the rewards tonight.

“I've worked really hard over the last 12 months to get myself back into a position where I'm fit enough to play first grade, and the club's stuck by me, and I really appreciate that.

“Now all my energy is into playing week-in, week-out footy for the Roosters and winning some games, which is the most important thing for me.

“I've spent a lot of time out of the game unfortunately given my body and not once have they wavered on their support of me or shown me the door.

“Rugby league's a cut-throat business and not everyone gets that treatment, and I know that, which is why I have a burning desire inside me to repay the good faith this club's given me and as I said, all my energy is going into being the best I can for the Roosters and getting wins.”

The result over the Broncos in enemy territory was a remarkable turnaround from their heavy 50-14 Round 1 defeat, with James Tedesco putting in a captain's knock, while hooker Connor Watson and rookie Hugo Savala also impressed. 

“He's awesome, he's a local junior, he's worked really hard to be in the position he's in,” Smith said of Savala, who was playing in his fourth game overall.

“I think he only got weeks for the pre-season and he ended up training the house down at centre, lock or wherever he was put and as I said, if you work hard enough and put yourself in the right position time and time again, good things will happen and it goes to show.

“I thought he was awesome tonight, put it in really us in good spots and we were able to close out that game.”

The Roosters now square off against the Panthers for the second time this season, with Smith hoping the side could use their progression from the past few week and repeat the dose after their surprise Round 2 victory.