Big Cheese: 'White powder' scandal cost Smith sponsorships, but he's NRL's hottest property

Could Brandon Smith be on his way to the Titans? Pictures of the Storm star meeting with Gold Coast officials, including coach Justin Holbrook, have sent footy fans into a minor frenzy.

While the dynamic dummy-half is contracted to Melbourne in 2022, a small army of clubs are plotting to pry him away the following season on a wealthy deal.

Smith’s parents live in Brisbane and the New Zealand Test rake has admitted a move to the Sunshine State is enticing, but he is also said to be content at the Storm.

Still, the lure of being closer to family, the security of a huge contract and the chance to be an 80-minute hooker – instead of sharing time with the electric Harry Grant – might just convince the 2020 premiership winner to pack his bags.

Smith’s manager Stan Martin told The Gold Coast Bulletin last week that he’d already received four offers for his client, including that of the Titans.

Martin confirmed the Cowboys are interested in the Kiwi ace, who was coached by current mentor Todd Payten in the Townsville outfit’s 2015 under-20s team.

New franchise the Dolphins, who will join the league in 2023 with Wayne Bennett as coach, have also scribbled Smith’s name high upon their hit list.

The Broncos, meanwhile, reportedly lack the salary cap space to match the dollars on offer for the Auckland-born number nine.

Even despite a recent off-field misdemeanour, Smith is undoubtedly the hottest property on the market. So what makes him such a valuable commodity?

For one, he’s extremely versatile. Up until this season, Smith spent most of 2017-2020 at lock or off the interchange due to Storm legend Cameron Smith’s presence.

With little self-preservation in his 100-miles-per-hour style, Smith quickly endeared himself to fans and became a key cog in the Melbourne machine.

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

All along, though, Smith has reiterated his desire to play hooker long-term. Since 2018, he’s starred in the position on the international stage for New Zealand.

Heading into 2021, many expected Smith to play second-fiddle to Grant. But niggling injuries to the Queensland Origin representative gave Smith the first crack at replacing his legendary namesake and he never looked back.

With a potent mixture of explosive strength, speed, agility, instinct, playmaking vision and sleight of hand, Smith is the ideal hooker for the modern game.

He and Grant ended up forming a lethal combination – with the former moving to a running forward role when the latter was injected off the bench – but they are both clearly deserving of a starting position.

As impressive as he is on the field, Smith is arguably almost as valuable off it. The larrikin, nicknamed The Cheese, has one of the biggest profiles of any current NRL player, particularly among younger generations.

His charisma and good-natured sense of humour has led him to work with Budgy Smuggler and Tackle Undies while the Storm’s social media content is often focused on their cheeky dummy-half.

Most recently, Smith was unveiled as the first athlete ambassador and content creator for clothing company You Know The Rules, opting to be paid in cryptocurrency.

Talking to You Know The Rules co-founder Isaac John, Smith revealed that after the so-called white powder scandal “a lot of people jumped off my bandwagon … I lost a lot of sponsorships”.

The fallout may have hurt his hip-pocket, but it hasn’t deterred his host of suitors.

If he doesn’t stay at Melbourne, a move to the Gold Coast – a club on the rise – could be most beneficial for Smith’s career.

With the Titans having returned to the finals this season for the first time since 2016 on the back of marquee forward recruits David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, the acquisition of Smith has the potential to turn the team into top-four contenders.

Bringing a winning mentality from Melbourne, as well as plenty of marketability, Smith may be the man to take Holbrook’s side to the next level.

However, Titans CEO Steve Mitchell knows there’s no shortage of competition for his signature.

“He’s a sensational player. One of our mandates is energy and effort and he brings a lot of that,” Mitchell told 4BC.

“But we’re standing in line. There are half a dozen [clubs] that feel the same way about him and for good reason.

“He picked up the Dally M in his position this year and quite rightly. He’s a fierce competitor and a formidable force in that spot.

“We are one of a number of clubs who would like his services, that is for sure.”