Trent Robinson has recalled Townsend from the wilderness to replace the injured Hugo Savala.
Roosters fans are speculating whether Sandon Smith has played his final game for the NRL club after Chad Townsend got the nod to replace the injured Hugo Savala. Trent Robinson has named Townsend and Sam Walker in the halves to take on the Sharks on Friday night, after Savala suffered a hand injury last weekend.
With Savala expected to miss two matches, Roosters fans were thinking Smith would receive an immediate recall after being dropped to NSW Cup last weekend. But Robinson went with Townsend instead, sparking speculation about Smith’s future at the club.
The 22-year-old Smith is contracted to the Roosters until the end of 2026, but has reportedly been shopped to rival clubs in preparation for Daly Cherry-Evans’ possible arrival next season. Smith has been linked to the Eels, Dragons and Cowboys in recent times, and the Roosters are reportedly happy for him to leave if he can secure a deal elsewhere.
Smith and Savala have been brilliant for the Roosters in 2025, stepping up to fill the void left by Walker’s ACL injury. But Smith was the man axed when Walker made his return against the Dragons last weekend, with Robinson preferring a Walker-Savala halves combo.
Chad Townsend recalled to take on former club
With Savala now injured, Robinson has opted to recall Townsend from the wilderness. A premiership player with Cronulla in 2016, Townsend will take on his former club after being axed by Robinson in Round 6. The 34-year-old played the first five games of the season after signing from North Queensland, but has been toiling in reserve grade ever since.
Roosters fans were stunned on Tuesday that Smith wasn’t recalled, and many think it signals he’ll leave the club. The ‘Roosters Podcast’ account wrote: “Sandon losing his spot to Savala signalled to us he was on the way out…certainly didn’t expect this though.”
While Daily Telegraph columnist ‘The Oracle’ commented: “Never thought I’d see the name Chad Townsend in first grade this year. Can’t work that out. Unlikely Sandon Smith will be at the club next year.”
Bryan Fletcher’s theory for Sandon Smith snub
But according to Roosters great Bryan Fletcher, it might around Townsend’s kicking game. Fletcher pointed out that neither of Walker and Smith have the same long kicking game that Savala possesses, but Townsend does. A halves combo of Walker and Smith might struggle to get the Roosters out of trouble on the fifth tackle.
I thought they might have gone with Sandon Smith, but I reckon it’s got to do with the kicking game,” he said on SEN radio. “The Roosters last year, they couldn’t get out of their own half when they were in trouble. Sam Walker, Sandon Smith and Luke Keary (last year), none of them are long kickers.
“Hugo was the saviour. They could turn an average set into a pretty good set with his long bombs. So I think that’s why the Chad gets his recall.”
Roosters player Egan Butcher said on Monday: “Whatever half steps up, they all know the system so well and they have full confidence from the rest of the team. It’s been so good watching Hugo kill it this year. It’s just a little setback and he’ll hopefully be back in a couple of weeks.
“He’ll build his combo with Sam and hopefully get that right for the finals series. One of his (Walker’s) biggest strengths is his game management, so he always knows what the team needs at the right time. Having him out there with his composure was big for us.”
