Melbourne have called Brandon Smith’s bluff by not sacking him a year out from the end of his contract. That would have been playing into the hands of the Kiwi forward and his agent.
Smith is yet to officially confirm it but he’s all but certain to be a Sydney Rooster in 2023 after telling the YTKR podcast “I was just looking at the Roosters jersey as he was saying it and I had goosebumps. I was looking at it going, I want to win a premiership in that jersey” after a rev-up chat from retired club stalwart Mitch Aubusson.
The Storm announced on Tuesday afternoon that they’d been told by Smith he would not be re-signing beyond the end of 2022 after the player himself had earlier issued a statement to address media speculation and his comments on the podcast.
“Over the past two months I’ve read multiple headlines about me day in day out, many of which were untrue and none that came from my mouth directly. I done [sic] this podcast for that very reason – to be fully transparent about the process I have been going through.
“It’s honestly been really exciting throughout and I’m truly grateful to be in the position I’m in.
“One thing I pride myself on is being myself and regardless of backlash I will continue to do so. That being said I do acknowledge and want to apologise for how some of the comments have been received.”
Referring to the Storm, he claimed “it was never my intent to disrespect or come across as ungrateful to the club that has done so much for me and my family”.
“And that goes for my coaches, members, staff and most of all my teammates. I speak from the heart – for better or worse sometimes – and I’m sorry if anyone was hurt by my words.”
It’s hard to walk it back when you’ve publicly stated in a podcast that the Storm are renowned for their culture of “so many piss-ups” and that the football and commercial entities operate separately whereas the Roosters seem like a unified club.
And this is the same Melbourne club which stood by Smith, along with teammates Cameron Munster and Chris Smith, when footage emerged of them enjoying a post-season party in the vicinity of some kind of “white powder” which was clearly not laundry detergent.
Last month the Storm sanctioned the trio on top of the one-game suspension and fines handed out by the NRL – $30,000 for Munster, $15,000 for Smith and $4000 for Lewis based on their salaries.
Smith’s extra club punishment was a $50,000 suspended fine – they would potentially be within their rights to enact that after his recent actions – as well as being stood down from the emerging leadership group and agreeing to consult with the club’s medical team and health professionals to “individualise a comprehensive ongoing welfare program”.
Storm CEO Justin Rodski on Tuesday said Smith’s podcast comments “and the way he expressed them, do not align with Storm’s values and the way we operate as a club.
“The statements have deeply offended current and former players, coaches, staff and board members and the club strongly rejects the comments made about the Storm culture.
“We acknowledge Brandon’s apology made on social media today and his willingness now to prepare for the 2022 season with Storm.”
They were rightly furious with Smith’s actions, particularly after he said in the podcast he’s made up his mind on his next contract, believing they would have the last chance to negotiate a new deal after his much-hyped tour of the Cowboys, Bulldogs, Dolphins, Titans and Roosters.
At least Smith again took ownership for his actions in his Tuesday apology, adding “at the end of the day they are my words”.
Smith went on to say the Storm’s success was built on hard work and effort and that the drinking culture comments have been taken out of context.
He is not the first sportsperson to say their words have been beaten up to suit a media agenda and won’t be the last.
And it’s great that he is comfortable in his own skin to be a character – rugby league and sport in general needs more of them.
But he left himself open to a deluge of criticism with what he said and by swearing profusely in the interview.
Clearly the YKTR podcast is an open forum where players can be themselves in a relaxed setting. When talking to a former league player like Isaac John, they can let their guard down much more than when speaking to the mainstream media.
These chats are not designed for a kids’ audience.
However all it takes is for someone at the Storm or one of their sponsors to be contacted by a media outlet for them to say it’s not a good look and it’s more fuel to the bonfire of profanities that Smith created.
Rodski said Smith would begin his pre-season preparation next Tuesday.
The unofficial punishment for Smith will be whatever Craig Bellamy can dish out without breaking any UN human rights treaties by increasing his specific pre-season training program at the Storm, which are already universally known for being the toughest in the NRL.
With co-captain Dale Finucane switching to the Sharks, there is a vacancy at lock which Smith would be a near certainty to fill next season as the Storm have made it clear they think Maroons representative Harry Grant is their long-term hooker.
It’s unlikely but if the situation becomes untenable over the off-season slog and the Storm opt to show Smith the door, the Roosters have a 2022 roster spot open like all clubs at this time of year.
They would be unlikely to have the salary cap space to accommodate Smith as it stands, but they would quickly go about shedding players to get him in the Tricolours sooner rather than later.
With the way the inadequate NRL contract system is set up, players can sign a year ahead of schedule to play elsewhere, which encourages underhanded ploys where agents engineer an early exit from their existing club to take up more lucrative rival offers.
Wests Tigers fans will never forgive Josh Aloiai and Ryan Matterson for these tactics the past couple of seasons.
David Klemmer (Canterbury to Newcastle) and Blake Green (Manly to the Warriors and then to the Knights) are other examples of stars making acrimonious exits ahead of schedule.
Not that you can trust the teams either – they’ll look to offload players soon after the ink dries on a contract if a better offer comes along.
Whatever fate awaits Smith when he fronts up for pre-season training, he should wear a mask – not for any other reason than to protect himself from the spittle that will fly from Bellamy when he unleashes one of his trademark sprays.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
SBW his first time around was a huge signing, albeit he had a slow start in his initial return to the NRL. On his second stint with the chooks they didn’t look closely enough at his form to realise he was past it and signed him on reputation and marketability alone. . You are right about Souths not doing the right thing by Reynolds. Although, Cody Walker was happy to sign a one-year extension and leave his options open. Had Reynolds done that then Wayne Bennett may have been in the drivers seat to sign both of the Rabbitohs halves for the Dolphins. As things stand I have to put up with seeing a beloved Souths junior playing in a Broncos jersey for 3 years! :shocked:
Short Memory
Guest
He swings, he misses. You didn't post a relevant comment. You cross posted an irrelevant link to an article on a completely unrelated topic. Paul took the time to write an interesting article. Others were engaged in relevant discussion. Then you jump in and hijack it. I chipped you - fairly gently - for poor posting etiquette, and you've gone full wet cat in your response, turning it nasty and personal. And making a record number of air swings. I'm not a boy. I'm not a Roosters fan. ("Rooster Boy"? Seriously? Are you trying to sound like a fifth grade bully in a badly written after school special?) I'm not a hypocrite - to earn that personal attack I would have had to chip you for cross posting then cross post myself. And you have not, here or in any of your over-abundant posts, given me anything to talk about. For the good of yourself, the Roar community, and humanity in general: Talk less, listen more, grow up, dial it down, and make an effort to restrain yourself from cross-posting - it really is poor form. Peace out : )
Slammin_Sam
Roar Rookie
Agree on all of the above although SBW gave them a premiership first time round.... the roosters should have medically retired him the second time ..take a leaf out of rustys book...I like you feel sad for your half....souths of old would have looked after the local junior....
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
"Poor tasting cheese? Try some Epoisse de Bourgogne." I'm sure AMD would manage to put a positive spin on it as he does with all things that are related to France. :silly:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
What about SBW’s second stint at the Roosters? I’ve seen park footballers play better games than Money Bill Williams’ 5 games with the Roosters in 2020. . How about English international Ryan Hall? He was a leading try scorer in the ESL and has scored 248 tries in the English Super League and has been one of the leading try scorers from that competition as well as scoring 36 tries for England. Yet after 2 seasons with the Roosters he had only played 11 games and had not scored a try before he was cut loose. . What about English winger Joe Burgess? He scored 52 tries from 55 games for Wigan in the ESL before coming to the Roosters in 2016 were he was given only 4 games before being shown the door by the Roosters. He came to the Rabbitohs to finish the season and scored 5 tries from 9 games. He would have stayed if not for the fact he had committed himself to Wigan for the 2017 season ahead of coming to Souths. . The Roosters aren’t always the gold at the end of the rainbow for players and they are quick to cut long standing servants of the club loose if they feel they are past their used-by date.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I agree. Smith is a better middle forward and is better suited to playing in the 13 jersey instead of 9. Cook, Grant, Mahoney and Koroisau are all ahead of him. Even young Tom Starling makes more impact with the ball in hand out of dummy half.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
It appears that Smith owes an apology to Wayne Bennett and the Dolphins as much as he does to Bellamy and the Storm after he reportedly gave Wayne Bennett a verbal guarantee he would be joining the Dolphins. The broken Smith promise that burned Dolphins ... in more ways than one The Brandon Smith fallout continues to get messier, with a new revelation that the Melbourne Storm star had actually given “verbal guarantees” to the Dolphins. “The Dolphins dropped off Reed Mahoney for the simple reason that they believed that they were going to Brandon Smith”. https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-brandon-smith-sydney-roosters-dolphins-reed-mahoney/news-story/f6c6d94420eb5c5c8daab6002a6bbbf0
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
yeah i know Tim I was a bit cryptic
Timnaik O'Shaughnessy
Roar Rookie
Stop beating around KD, tell us how you really feel!
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Hung, drawn and quartered - with his head on a pike just to make sure. Preceded by being dragged naked by horses across a field littered by three corner jacks.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
“Trust me stupidity isn’t a crime or a lot of people would be in jail” . I could name a few usual suspects from this forum off the top of my head that would be very nervous if that were in fact the case. :laughing:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I thought we had already convicted him in the court of public opinion via trial by social media? Isn't that how it works on this forum? :silly:
Davico
Roar Pro
So, that being the case, why would Verellis want to go to the Storm?
Adam
Roar Guru
I agree. The passing game of a hooker is starting to be too overlooked at the moment. It just seems like such an opportunity to be attacking off the dummy half rather than the half. His current passing game was a momentum killer a few times this year
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
lucky the cheese don't reed too good nohow. but we dun good mate but they dun better on the day mate
Zenn
Roar Rookie
one fell swoop perhaps
Greg
Roar Pro
Im pretty surprised by a lot of the comments. I dont see anything he said as agitating for a release. He actually said that although he has made his mind up he still has to go back and speak to Bellamey, who can be hard to say no to. He also raved about how lucky he was to be part of the Melbourne system so early in his career as they have taught him nothing will ever be achieved without hard work. I can see why Melbourne would not be happy about revealing there is a drinking culture there. Though this isn't news. It had been well known for some time to anyone who regularly consumes NRL podcasts. I can also understand to some extent why they would not be happy about saying he wants to win a comp at the Roosters. But, praise for the Roosters is not criticism of Melbourne and should not be taken as such. I'm sure he wants to win a comp for the Storm next year as well. I dont imagine that he will be checked out and not performing next year as some have suggested. He is a player who play like, and he himself says he wants to remember as, someone who always puts in his all on the field. Also, unless signing elsewhere due to discontent at their current club, i cant imagine checking out would be possible for any professional sportsperson given the mindset required to reach such a level. Even more surprising is criticism of him as a hooker. In his first year at hooker, a year where he spent the pre-season preparing to play the same bench middle forward role he had played, previously he won the Dally M hooker of the year. Yes, he has a lot to work on. He acknowledges as much in the podcast. As for the swearing. I understand to some people it is not a great look however i think it is more reflective of society and his generation than anything else. He was also not swearing at anyone, trying to be offensive. I dont imagine that expanding his vocabulary would be a priority for him.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Hi Geoff, I'm not sure his dummy-half play is as bad as you suggest. He doesn't need to be a game manager, a kicking game is desirable, but not essential, and his passing game is passable. That's probably all it needs to be at Easts. He and Radley are very similar players. Hybrid locks - which is where I see the 'dummy-half' position going. Verrils won't hang around to play on the bench. They can carry Hutchison on the bench if they need some more variety.
Greg
Guest
Backup for Grant, save on salary cap, no tesm disharmony
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Phil's sesquipedalian prose was magniloquent to say the least :laughing: