Sandon Smith can feel the weight of the Newcastle No.7 jersey he is wearing – the one made famous by Andrew Johns and earmarked for injured $14 million teammate Dylan Brown – ahead of a grand final against the Roosters team he was squeezed out of.
asserted
he → feel → team
“People have spoken about Joey Johns today, and I feel like I shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentence as him at this time,” Smith says while doing the rounds at a media session at Knights headquarters on Tuesday.
“He is the best that has ever played this game, and he’s a huge inspiration for myself, this squad, and this town as a whole …
asserted
he → speak → whole
“I try not to think about it.
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I → try → it
I know the weight of what we’ve got on our hands at the moment, but we still have full belief internally in what we can do.”
asserted
we → know → what
The Knights are the ultimate underdog story, and no man encapsulates that better than Smith.
asserted
man → encapsulate → Smith
Deemed surplus to requirements at the Roosters due to the arrival of Daly Cherry-Evans and the presence of Sam Walker, Hugo Savala and Toby Rodwell, Smith arrived in the Hunter as a back-up to first-choice playmakers Brown and Fletcher Sharpe.
asserted
Smith → deem → Brown
Instead, he has been at the forefront of a resurgence that could result in the most unlikely NRL premiership of them all, after Newcastle finished with the wooden spoon last season.
uncertain
Newcastle → result → spoon
The last halfback to steer the Knights to a decider, a quarter of a century ago, was Johns.
asserted
halfback → steer → century
When the eighth Immortal attended a training session before the win over South Sydney in the first week of the finals, Smith was star struck.
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Smith → attend → finals
“There was a bit of an aura with him walking around training,” Smith says.
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Smith → be → aura
“It was pretty cool to see him there, so hopefully we’ll see him this week or get a little video message from him or something.
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we → see → him
We’ll draw off his inspiration and go after it.”
asserted
We → draw → it
The Roosters’ signing of Daly Cherry-Evans for 2026 meant there was a glut of playmakers at Bondi Junction, and something had to give.
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something → mean → Junction
Smith was the one to make way.
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Smith → make → way
It’s a decision the Roosters may come to regret come Sunday, but there’s no bad blood over the 26-year-old’s departure.
uncertain
Roosters → ’ → departure
“Nah, not at all,” Smith says.
asserted
Smith → say → ?
“The motivation is to win a grand final for the Newcastle Knights.
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motivation → win → Knights
You don’t need any more motivation than that, so that’s the only thing that’ll be on my mind, and I’ll be focused when Sunday comes.
asserted
Sunday → need → mind
I loved my time there, they’re a great club.
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they → love → time
But I’m a Newcastle Knight now, and that’s what I’ll be focused on – getting the win for us.”
asserted
I → ’m → us
Smith is not the first Roosters playmaker to end up at the Knights after being discarded in favour of a shiny new toy.
asserted
Smith → end → toy
Mitchell Pearce made the same move transition when Melbourne maestro Cooper Cronk joined the glamour outfit.
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Cronk → make → outfit
“I didn’t even think about the similarities with Sandon and Daly until you pointed it out,” Pearce says.
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Pearce → think → it
“I think the move has really suited him.
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move → think → him
There will not only be that fire in the belly to do it for Newcastle, but I’d imagine he’ll also be wanting to get it done against the old club that couldn’t find a spot for him.
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that → imagine → him
“From my experience, the Roosters are that high-profile glamour club with a lot of support, and the Knights are working class with a deep connection to the old boys and love the underdog mentality.
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Knights → work → mentality
“Don’t ask me to pick a winner because I love them both.
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I → ask → them
It will be a great story whoever wins it.
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whoever → win → it
They both deserve to win it.
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They → deserve → it
“I’m really glad for Sandon.
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I → ’m → Sandon
It’s never a burden wearing Andrew Johns’ old jersey – I always saw it as a privilege to pull on Joey’s No. 7.
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I → ’ → .
It helps when the community always gets around you.”
asserted
community → help → you
Starting over at a new club isn’t the only hurdle Smith has had to overcome.
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Smith → start → club
In 2024, he pleaded guilty to negligent driving after being involved in an accident that resulted in a pedestrian losing two toes.
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pedestrian → plead → toes
The Central Coast product escaped conviction given the freak nature of the incident and the remorse Smith showed for his part in it.
asserted
Smith → escape → it
It was just another experience Smith feels has steeled him for the biggest moment of his footballing career.
asserted
Smith → feel → career
“There are so many things over your life – not only football, but your life and your career – that build you up for these moments and consistently build your resilience and strength,” Smith says.
asserted
Smith → be → resilience
“They all help me towards this moment, and I’m confident in my own ability and this team’s ability that we’ll be able to go out on Sunday and do a job.
asserted
we → help → job
In the preliminary final against the Panthers, Smith played the game of his life.
asserted
Smith → play → life
It included two long-range tries, including a late intercept that secured the result.
asserted
that → include → result
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
