Sydney Roosters centre Billy Smith is in doubt for Friday night’s match against the Rabbitohs after he was involved in an e-bike accident near the club’s headquarters.
Smith was being assessed by the club’s medical staff on Thursday afternoon after the accident took place in Moore Park.
The 26-year-old, who has endured a long run of injuries since making his debut in 2019, was confident he did not suffer any serious injury.
But the incident was far from ideal so close to Friday’s match.
Roosters players frequently use electric scooters and bikes to move around the Moore Park precinct, with the club’s training fields a fair distance from the gym at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Smith’s accident has, at least momentarily, taken the attention away from South Sydney’s Alex Johnston and his bid to overtake Ken Irvine’s competition try-scoring record.
Johnston needs one try against the Roosters to go level with Irvine on 212 career tries, while a double would break the record that has stood since 1969.
“We don’t want him (Johnston) to score any tries,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said on Thursday.
“That hasn’t been brought up because our job is to allow no tries on that edge.
“Hopefully the following week he’ll break that record. Alex is a really good person and a good man, and a great footy player and he deserves everything he gets.
“I’m really happy for him and what he’s done in the game, and I look forward to seeing him celebrate, hopefully on a television from a distance.”
The Roosters will have centre Robert Toia return on Friday night, while Siua Wong has been upgraded to start in the back row ahead of Nat Butcher.
AAP
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