Billy Smith is continuing his comeback from a luckless start to life in the NRL, signing a three-year contract extension to remain at the Sydney Roosters.
Smith ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament three times by his 23rd birthday and suffered a serious shoulder injury in 2021, which combined to restrict him to 12 NRL games between 2019 and 2022.
But the 24-year-old finally became a mainstay at first-grade level in 2023, impressing at left centre across 15 games.
He had signed a one-year contract extension for 2024 in November but the Roosters confirmed on Friday he had since put pen to paper on a new deal that keeps him in Bondi through to 2027.
"I've often spoken about how grateful I am at any chance I get to represent the Sydney Roosters," Smith said.
"To know that I'm going to be here for at least another three years is something I'm stoked about."
The contract is an endorsement in Smith as the Roosters prepare to make adjustments to their backline in the near future.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will make a high-profile code switch to chase his rugby union dream in 2025, while fellow winger Daniel Tupou will be 33 and off contract at this season's end.
The Roosters also lost a handful of outside back options at the end of last season, with Jaxson Paulo, Corey Allan, Drew Hutchison and Paul Momirovski signing elsewhere.
New recruit Dom Young is in line for a club debut when the Roosters face Brisbane during the NRL's highly publicised trip to Las Vegas in March.
