Cam Murray eyes final-round return as Rabbitohs look to end Roosters’ season

3 weeks ago 9

Tuesday is shaping as D-Day for South Sydney skipper Cameron Murray as he tries to make a late, late return from an Achilles injury in a match that could end the finals hopes of bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters.

After struggling with injuries all season, Souths could welcome back Murray, Latrell Mitchell (quad) and the suspended Jack Wighton for Friday night’s ultimate consolation prize bout.

While Souths cannot make the finals, the chance to potentially stop their eighth-placed neighbours will provide plenty of motivation.

There is also the possibility Alex Johnston could break Ken Irvine’s long-standing try-scoring record of 212 – he needs a hat-trick to do so – and the potential for fans to storm the ground to celebrate.

If that was not enough spice, Rabbitohs hooker Brandon Smith could line up against his former club just days after he was issued with a bench warrant to appear at Southport Magistrates Court on September 18, at which point he will be charged on one count of disclosing “inside knowledge” for illegal betting and one count of supplying dangerous drugs.

Souths fans might wonder why Murray would bother trying to return for one game and risk re-injuring himself. After rupturing his Achilles last pre-season, the NSW star has not played at all this season.

Cameron Murray prepares to make his return for the Rabbitohs.

But Murray has worked all year to get himself fit, and would love nothing more than to “jump into the trenches” with his teammates who have missed him all year.

The 27-year-old is only focused on the one game, and has already told Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters as much. While Murray would love to wear the green and gold, it would be unfair on his club to make himself available for the Ashes tour in October and November.

Murray will have a serious hit-out on Sunday, followed by a similar session on Tuesday before he sits down with medical staff to make a call about playing in the final round.

“I can understand why people might have reservations about me returning, but I’ve been working really hard on the sidelines, and my biggest motivator has always been to get back at some point this year – that’s what’s been pushing me along this rehab journey,” Murray said.

Brandon Smith could play against his former Roosters teammates on Friday night, adding even more spice to the clash.

“The other motivator is seeing my teammates put in every week. They’ve been in the trenches, they’ve been dealing with a stupid amount of injuries, a lot of them have been thrown in the deep end, and all I want to do is get back and play with them.

“It’s not about trying to get back for an Ashes, or saving myself for next year. If the risk and reward in my mind makes sense, and I’m ready to go, I was always going to make the call to play.

“A lot of coaches would put a line straight through my comeback until next year, but [coach] Wayne [Bennett] has put trust in me and backs me to make the right call. I’m grateful we’ve got that relationship.

“I’ve been able to complete everything at training, including all the unstructured stuff – I just haven’t done it repetitively.

Latrell Mitchell and Isaiah Tass celebrate the match winner in the meeting between the arch-rivals in April.

“I’ll get through a big session on Sunday, but Tuesday will be the day I sit down with the physios and the coach and decide what we do.”

The Roosters were brilliant in the second half against the Storm on Friday night, but can still miss out on the finals if the Dolphins win their remaining two games – against the Titans on Sunday and what is likely to be a heavily depleted Raiders team without its best talent in the final round – and the Roosters lose to the Rabbitohs.

Murray, a Souths junior, appreciates the bad blood between the two historic clubs.

The tension cranked up yet another notch during the week when it was revealed former Rooster and now Souths recruit Smith allegedly contacted a drug dealer to supply ex-teammate Victor Radley with an illicit substance during a mid-season golf trip. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Radley.

A Mitchell cut-out pass for Isaiah Tass helped seal a 20-14 Souths win in round five.

As for completing the double, Murray said: “It’s always nice to beat the Roosters. I love the rivalry, it’s never hard to get up against them. Everyone at our club understands that.

“I know the ‘Cheese’ [Smith] will be up for it. Any time a player comes up against their old team for the first time, it’s always a big game for them. This will be no different. Cheese plays the game hard, he’s a bit of a madman, and it will be the same next Friday.

“Emotionally it would be nice to get back against the Roosters, but this decision about whether I play or not will be based on logic.”

Murray said he spoke with Walters last week and told him: “I always make the most of the opportunities I get to wear the jersey”, but given the year he has had, “it doesn’t sit right with me playing 20 to 30 minutes and going straight into a rep jersey – I owe my club and teammates more than that”.

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