Roosters star Brandon Smith makes shock NRL defection to bitter rivals

Sydney Roosters star Brandon Smith has put pen to paper on a bombshell new deal that will see him join a bitter NRL rival.

Roosters hooker Brandon Smith has officially agreed a two-year deal with the Tri Colours bitter rivals South Sydney from next season.

The 28-year-old is yet to play this season for the Tri Colours after undergoing knee surgery but has been understood to have been told to find pastures new.

Watch your team in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership. Stream every round LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

And that he has done after putting pen to paper on a deal with the Bunnies understood to be worth a reported $650,000 per season.

It is understood the deal was signed on Tuesday after Smith underwent a medical with the Rabbitohs.

Smith is off to become a Bunny. Picture: NRL Photos

“Brandon has a wonderful record of success in the NRL and at international level, having a 70% success rate across his career,” Rabbitohs Head of Recruitment and Retention, Mark Ellison said in a statement.

“He improves the players around him and gives 100% every time he steps on the field, and is a great character off the field.

“Wayne (Bennett) has a high opinion of Brandon and they will have the opportunity to work together here at South Sydney.

“As a young man in New Zealand, he wore the red and green jersey of the Waiheke Rams and now he will have the chance to earn the right to wear the red and green jersey of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

“We’re delighted to have signed an international-calibre player with a history of premiership success such as Brandon and we wish him the best of luck for the remainder of his time at his current club.”

Smith may well have played his final game for the Roosters. NRL PHOTOS

But despite signing on from 2026, the Roosters are understood to be open to an early release with Smith not due back until at least round 15.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said the Roosters are happy for Smith – who is on $850,000 this season – to depart for another club mid-season but the fact it’s to go to fierce rivals South Sydney is reportedly a sticking point.

Veteran journalist Brent Read think a mid-season switch for Smith is imminent, believing the 28-year-old has “played his last game for the Roosters”.

“The Roosters will chip in some money but they won’t chip in a heap as it’s got to work in their favour,” Read revealed on NRL 360.

“They have to come out of this with some money in their salary cap. They’ll chip in money to make it happen.”

The move has been touted for the last few weeks with Smith telling James Graham’s The Bye Round podcast he was keen on playing under Wayne Bennett, who had previously tried to sign him.

“Yes, I did see the interest from Wayne Bennett. Hopefully, it’s real interest,” Smith said.

“I’m stoked that he’s interested in me, but to be fair we had a pretty rough relationship.

“I did give him my word I was signing at Redcliffe and we all knew how that ended up.

“So you never know what might happen.”

Originally published as Roosters star Brandon Smith makes shock NRL defection to bitter rivals