LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Roosters fans are speculating about Sandon Smith's future with the NRL club following the decision to name Chad Townsend as the replacement for the injured Hugo Savala.
Trent Robinson has selected Townsend and Sam Walker to play against the Sharks, as Savala is expected to miss two matches due to a hand injury.
Many anticipated Smith would be recalled after his recent drop to the NSW Cup, but Robinson's choice of Townsend instead has raised concerns about Smith's position.
The 22-year-old Smith is under contract with the Roosters until the end of 2026 but has reportedly been made available to other clubs, potentially in light of Daly Cherry-Evans' anticipated arrival next season.
Teams such as the Eels, Dragons, and Cowboys have expressed interest in him, and the Roosters are apparently open to his departure if he can find a suitable deal.
Both Smith and Savala performed well for the Roosters in 2025, stepping up while Walker recovered from an ACL injury.
However, with Walker's return, Smith lost his place in the lineup to Savala, and now with Savala injured, Townsend has been brought back from a stint in reserve grade.
Townsend, a premiership-winning player with Cronulla in 2016, had been dropped by Robinson after Round 6 despite playing the first five games of the season.
The unexpected decision not to recall Smith has led many fans to believe that he is on the verge of leaving the Roosters.
The 'Roosters Podcast' stated, "Sandon losing his spot to Savala signalled to us he was on the way out…certainly didn't expect this though." The combination of being overlooked for the upcoming match and ongoing speculation about his future has left supporters questioning whether Smith has played his last game for the club.