Sydney Roosters hooker Brandon Smith has been hospitalised in New Zealand, leaving Mt Smart Stadium in a neck brace and on a stretcher.
It was the 74th minute that Smith came from the field when he was sent for a head injury assessment.
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But as he left the field, the Roosters rake reportedly complained of neck pain.
He left the stadium on a stretcher and wearing a neck brace, but Rooster officials have claimed it was precautionary.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Smith was expected to stay the night in hospital.
He is expected to undergo scans overnight and the club has its fingers crossed that he will be discharged on Monday morning.
The Roosters are flying direct from Auckland to Brisbane for next weekend’s Magic Round.
It comes at arguably the worst time for the Roosters after Smith had brushed off criticism after he struggled in the No. 9 jersey to start the season for Sydney.
The Roosters defeated the Warriors 14-0 in “horrific” conditions through torrential rain in Auckland.
Smith had copped some of the criticism for Sam Walker’s demotion, with Braith Anasta saying the former Storm star had “escaped a bit of the blame” for his performances out of dummy half.
“He’s probably the best dummy half from ten metres out but in terms of service and taking away from the quality of the six and seven, you always want the ball out in front, you want the ball on the run that gives you more time and space.
“I still think Smith is struggling with his service out of dummy half, and I think that has to be looked at as an impact to the halves and their performance this year.
“I don’t just think it’s the six and seven.
“The Roosters needed a genuine number nine last year, they needed that and they chose to go down this path.”
Since then, the Roosters have won both the Anzac clash against the Dragons and the clash against the high-flying Warriors.
Against New Zealand, Smith was taken from the field in the 29th minute, with Victor Radley going into dummy half for a total of 22 minutes over the halftime break.
Sharks premiership coach and now Manly assistant Shane Flanagan told Fox Sports Smith looked a lot better.
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“I feel he is getting better every week for the Roosters, obviously he came to the club with high expectations,” Flanagan said.
“He started a bit slow by his standards, but week by week … spent a bit of time on the bench today.”
Smith finished with a try assist and 29 tackles for the match.
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