‘On his way there’: NRL rival ‘absolutely having a look’ at Rooster Brandon Smith

Brandon Smith’s playing future in the NRL looks to be decided, with the Roosters hooker expected to land at a rival club.

Brandon Smith’s playing future in the NRL looks to be decided, with the Roosters hooker expected to land at South Sydney.

The former Storm premiership winner signed at the Tricolours with high expectations that he has failed to live up to and with Reece Robson on the way to Bondi in 2026, the writing was already on the wall for Smith.

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It was reported last week that Smith could leave the Roosters before his deal runs out at season’s end, and it seems like the Rabbitohs are the frontrunner for his signature.

Now, Fox League’s James Hooper reported on NRL 360 on Wednesday night that the Bunnies are “absolutely having a look” at Smith.

Hooper added that the idea of sending Smith to South Sydney was first floated in the middle of the 2024 season but that Roosters supremo Nick Politis shot it down.

“Absolutely no way, he’s not going to Souths,” Politis said, according to Hooper.

“But I get the impression as though that tune might have changed a little bit now.”

Brandon Smith is being linked with a move away from the Roosters. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio said Hooper’s mail was “spot on”, adding that the “increasing talk” in the NRL is that Smith is set to sign with South Sydney.

“He’s on his way there,” Riccio said.

“That’s the discussion.”

Riccio said on NRL 360 last week in Vegas that the Smith signing is one the Roosters “no doubt regret” and given Trent Robinson wasn’t able to get the best out of him, the Daily Telegraph journalist questioned whether the “risk” was worth it for the Rabbitohs.

“I’m not 100 per cent sure on the salary that is being put forward, but for me it’s still a risk and when you think about South Sydney’s situation,” he said.

“They’re backing Peter Mamouzelos to play in the dummy-half role, Siliva Havili is that rotating dummy-half, plays a little power forward like Brandon does.

“But for everything we’ve spoken about the Roosters, we’ve spoken about the recruitment, they got this one wrong. So, why is it going to be right at South Sydney?”

Smith is reportedly on $800,000 a season, although the Roosters would have to end up wearing some of that money even if he signed with the Rabbitohs.

Originally published as ‘On his way there’: NRL rival ‘absolutely having a look’ at Rooster Brandon Smith