Not everyone is a fan of Cam Murray returning for one game. Wayne Bennett is

3 months ago 8

Wayne Bennett muttered the five words every South Sydney fan has waited all year to hear: “Cam Murray will be playing.”

The Rabbitohs skipper will play his first and only game of the year against bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters on Friday after assuring Bennett and the club’s medical staff his Achilles would not make him an injury risk.

Brandon Smith also looked like he did not have a care in the world at training on Tuesday as he prepares to take on his former teammates for the first time – and what will be his first NRL outing since it emerged he had been charged by Queensland Police for disclosing “inside knowledge” for illegal betting, and accused of supplying drugs to Roosters’ forward Victor Radley.

There was a lot of debate about bringing Murray back for one game, especially if he re-injured his Achilles, and it impacted his next pre-season.

Bennett was more than happy to leave the final call to his captain as Souths attempt to potentially ruin the finals’ charge of their despised neighbours.

“It was purely Cam’s decision,” Bennett said on Tuesday.

Cameron Murray will play for South Sydney on Friday

“I’m really proud of what he has done and how he has gone about it.

“He wanted to play a game and wanted to play with his teammates. He’s seen what they have gone through; he hasn’t been able to play with them, but now he has this opportunity.

“I’m not sure everyone is a fan of what he’s doing, but I am because it’s what he wants to do, and he’s worked hard to get there. I’m backing him.

“Anyone who plays with him in the state team and the Australian team values what he brings.

Brandon Smith was all smiles at Heffron Park

“He’s trained full-on with everyone else the last three weeks. It hasn’t come out of the blue.

“I said to him, ‘you tell me what you want to do’. He said he wants to come off the bench, and we’ll go from there. He’s done a lot of training. He’s in great condition, but match fitness is the next step for him.”

Bennett was also backing Smith to cope with any extra attention he received from his former Roosters mates.

“Brandon has been great, he’s been no problem, he’s getting on with life and been good,” Bennett said.

Latrell Mitchell could face off-season surgery on his neck.

“You’ll have to ask Brandon about [playing against the Roosters], I don’t know. I’m not worried about his ex-teammates. I’m only worried about Brandon and him playing well and being happy with what he is doing.”

Latrell Mitchell did not train at Heffron Park, and will meet with a specialist later this week. He could yet go under the knife to have a bulging disc in his neck shaved back.

Murray completed the entire session on Tuesday, as did Smith, and Jack Wighton, who returns from a four-match suspension.

Murray told this masthead over the weekend that Tuesday was shaping as D-Day, but any comeback had nothing to do with trying to put himself in the window for selection in the Australian team to tour England. He even phoned Walters to tell him he would pass on the tour to focus on being fit for pre-season training with Souths.

Should Souths win, the Roosters will be sweating on a second-string Canberra team defeating the Dolphins on Sunday; otherwise, they could be joining Souths in having their Mad Monday next week.

There is also the chance winger Alex Johnston can break Ken Irvine’s long-standing try-scoring record should he get across the line three times, something he has already done 16 times in his career.

Murray’s late cameo was welcomed by his teammates, including prop Keaon Koloamatangi, who spent his junior career winning premierships at Mascot with the lock forward.

“Even though there’s nothing to play for [in terms of finals], it shows you how much this club means to him by trying to come back early; he’s ready to go,” Koloamatangi said.

“He’s someone I really look up to. He puts his body on the line each week, and he’s the main guy I don’t want to let down each week.”

Wighton added: “He’s a different beast. He wants to play with his mates and show why he’s our captain.”

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