NRL Transfers: Brandon Smith’s contract call leaves Dolphins in the lurch
The Melbourne Storm may be angry over Brandon Smith’s decision to sign with the Roosters, but it’s the greatest pain will be felt elsewhere.
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Brandon Smith is due to return to training in Melbourne next week and he can expect an icy reception.
Seething Storm officials, rocked by Smith’s decision to join the Sydney Roosters in 2023, are set to demand answers over his handling of contract negotiations and perceived criticism of the club that stood by him during the white powder scandal.
So incensed are Storm power-brokers with his behaviour, it is understood they would have considered allowing him to leave immediately had it not been for the concerns over the immediate future of forwards Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Tui Kamikamica.
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Melbourne chair Matt Tripp, coach Craig Bellamy and chief executive Justin Rodski declined to comment when contacted by News Corp on Monday but they, along with senior officials at the club, are believed to be furious with the way Smith has conducted himself in recent weeks.
The disappointment isn’t limited to Melbourne. The Dolphins walked away from talks with Smith convinced that he would join them. They put negotiations with other hookers on hold while they waited for Smith to confirm his decision, only to be left at the altar and forced to reassess their targets.
Had they known Smith would join the Roosters, they would have given more thought to pursuing Canterbury-bound hooker Reed Mahoney. The Dolphins are now likely to consider making a play for Penrith premiership winner Api Koroisau, who is yet to extend his deal with the Panthers.
The Storm at least have Harry Grant in their ranks but the club was keen to retain Smith and had been told by both the New Zealand hooker and his management that they would be given a final chance to convince him to stay.
They patiently waited as Smith paraded himself up the astern seaboard. He was photographed meeting with the Gold Coast Titans and filmed walking into Redcliffe Leagues Club, cheekily suggesting on his way out that he was playing the pokies.
He then posted footage on social media playing golf with current and former Roosters players.
The final straw was the podcast with clothing and media label YKTR, where Smith praised the Roosters but in doing so, appeared to slate the Storm.
Smith, who returns to Storm training next Tuesday, lavished praise on Roosters chair Nick Politis for calling Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Jake Friend when they were with Smith, suggesting it showed how much he cared. He also heaped praise on coach Trent Robinson and talked about the club being unified.
The comments didn’t go down well at Storm HQ. Coincidentally, Tripp played golf with Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen over the weekend.
While Covid border restrictions meant he wasn’t able to get in front of Smith in recent months, Tripp is known to have made it clear to Smith on several occasions that the Storm wanted to keep him and he looked forward to having the chance to convince him to stay when he returned to Melbourne.
That hope was dashed on Monday morning when News Corp revealed that his manager had begun informing clubs that Smith had agreed terms with the Roosters.
Smith’s manager Stan Martin also contacted the Storm to notify them of the decision as word began to spread.
It came as no surprise. The Daily Telegraph reported on Sunday that he was on the verge of joining the Roosters - Smith also posted footage dining with Roosters centre Joey Manu that same day - and the Kiwi Test star then spoke openly of meeting with the club during a podcast with YKTR founder Isaac John that was released on Sunday.
Smith has an ambassadorial relationship with the clothing and media brand, having recently agreed to be paid by the group in cryptocurrency.
Melbourne officials bit their tongue on Monday but the sense of disappointment was palpable given the support they have shown Smith over his career, most notably when he was filmed in the off-season in a room with white powder.
Had it not been for concern over the future of Asofa-Solomona, who is yet to be vaccinated, and Kamikamica, who is facing police charges, the Storm may have given serious consideration to allowing Smith to leave a year early.
It may yet be a consideration depending on whether Smith can repair his relationship with key figures at the club. He is due to return to Melbourne at the weekend before training resumes for senior players early next week.
The Roosters are unlikely to be able to accommodate Smith under the salary cap in 2022, although they could make room by moving players.
The Dolphins have also walked away chastened by the experience. They were exceedingly confident that Smith would be one of their marquee signings, having held productive and promising talks with him when he was in Queensland.
Smith also spoke to the Titans and North Queensland after the Storm’s season came to an end, his manager having emailed all 16 clubs and asked them to come forward with their best bids only six hours after the November 1 window officially opened.
The Dolphins had earmarked Smith along with Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga as their major remaining targets, having already signed Storm and Queensland back rower Felise Kaufusi.
They will now need to reassess their priorities as they digest their inability to land Smith. The Titans will also need to change tack as they look to find a hooker capable of helping them go deeper into the finals.
Roosters incumbent Sam Verrills could explore his options now that Smith is destined to take over the No.9 jersey. Koroisau is also up for grabs from 2023 and his value has seemingly increased after Smith and Mahoney decided their futures.
Smith, Manu toast Roosters’ deals with Italian feast
— Fatima Kdouh
Sealed with an Italian meal.
After landing the services of Melbourne Storm star Brandon Smith, the Sydney Roosters have secured explosive centre Joseph Manu for a further two seasons.
But not before the future new teammates were spotted in and around the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney over the weekend.
The duo enjoyed lunch together at Italian restaurant Matteo in Double Bay feasting on lobster tail pasta, steak, veal cotoletta and pizza.
Isaac John, a former Manly player and host of YKTR Sports podcast, where Smith heavily hinted he would be joining the Roosters, was also at the lunch on Sunday.
Smith will join the Bondi club from season 2023 after being wooed by the Roosters in recent weeks, which included dinner at coach Trent Robinson’s house, plus a round of golf with New Zealand teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and retired Roosters players Jake Friend and Mitchell Aubusson.
“The decision is made … but I’ve got to go talk to Bellsa [Craig Bellamy] and see what he says,” Smith said on the podcast.
“It is going to be pretty emotional. I don’t know what to expect from that. I’m pretty nervous actually.”
While the hooker won’t arrive until 2023, his signature raises questions about the long-term future of rising rake Sam Verrills, who is contracted at the club for another three seasons.
Manu, who was hotly pursued by the Warriors and new franchise the Dolphins, will remain in the Tricolours until the of 2024.
The Warriors tried to lure Manu to New Zealand with a multi-million dollar offer and the chance to play in the fullback position.
But the two-time premiership winner said he rejected interest from other clubs to continue working with coach Robinson.
“The Roosters is home to me and I couldn’t see myself playing for another club. From the top down, I love this club,” Manu said.
“Trent and the coaches and staff we have here help make me a better player and person every day. It’s a privilege to wear the Roosters jersey and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
Robinson praised Manu’s work ethic and game breaking ability.
“Joseph has been with club since he was a schoolboy and I’ve loved watching him develop into the hardworking player and game-changer we all enjoy watching today,” Robinson said.
“Joey has an incredible work ethic and is confident in the player and man that he is.”
Manu’s decision to remain in the Tricolours will see him form a centre combination with Penrith grand final winner Paul Momirovski.
After stints with Melbourne, Wests Tigers and the Panthers, Momirovski returns to the Roosters on a three-year deal from 2022.
Other centre options for coach Trent Robinson include Adam Keighran, who played seven games at centre to end 2021.
The Manu and Momirovski centre combination will likely see Joseph Suaalii and Daniel Tupou claim the wing pairing next season.
Manu is expected to report for pre-season in the coming weeks after a serious facial injury suffered in a high tackle by South Sydney’s Latrell Mitchell abruptly ended his 2021 season in round 24.
Surgeons needed to insert three metal plates to reconstruct Manu’s face after the gruesome hit.
The centre was spotted at a number of training sessions in the final weeks of the Roosters’ 2021 campaign.
Confirmed: Brandon Smith joins Roosters
— Brent Read and Peter Badel
Melbourne star Brandon Smith has confirmed his move to the Sydney Roosters in 2023.
News Corp understands that Smith began informing other clubs of his plans on Monday morning, having also attracted interest from North Queensland, Gold Coast and the Dolphins.
The Storm were also desperate to keep the New Zealand international but he has opted to join the Roosters after being wined and dined by the club last week.
Smith played golf with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend and Mitch Aubusson, and then spent several hours at the home of Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
The Storm hooker clearly walked away impressed, having detailed the day in an interview with YKTR Sports over the weekend.
“It was actually mind blowing,” Smith told YKTR Sports.
“I can’t explain it … like I went and golfed with Jared, Aubo and Friendy, and Nick Politis was ringing them. He is over in LA on a business trip at the moment and he is ringing them up just to see how they are.
“And they spoke with so much passion about the club … I think the best thing about the Roosters, bro, they are about your life, not your footy.
“Like, they want you to be set for life. They don’t want you to walk away with nothing from rugby league. They just pushed that. They can tell you how they are going to help you with life … it was just mind blowing.”
Roosters chairman Nick Politis’ shrewd poaching raid on Smith will come as a crushing blow to the Dolphins, who were confident of snaring the 25-year-old after he toured Redcliffe’s facilities a fortnight ago.
The Dolphins secured Felise Kaufusi as their first signing on Friday and they were hoping to add Smith as their second marquee recruit.
It is understood the Dolphins tabled the most lucrative offer, a three-year deal worth around $800,000 a season, while Queensland rivals the Titans and Cowboys also made offers in excess of $2 million.
But the Roosters have prevailed in a month-long battle for his services after Smith’s final detour stop at Bondi on his drive back to Melbourne, who have the match-winning dynamo on their books for the 2022 season.
The Dolphins were confident of snaring Smith after he met for talks with super coach Wayne Bennett, who is renowned for his pulling power at the negotiating table.A fortnight ago, Dolphins recruitment chief Peter O’Sullivan believed the NRL’s 17th team were closing in on Smith, who had also toured the Titans and Cowboys set-ups.
Smith ‘makes up mind’ on NRL future
— Paul Crawley
Brandon Smith has spoken passionately about how he was blown away by his visit to the Sydney Roosters last week, revealing he even told himself at one point “I want to win a premiership in that jersey”.
In the strongest indication yet that the off contract Melbourne Storm star will turn down Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins to call Bondi home come 2023, Smith conceded “I’ve made up my mind”.
But he said he would not reveal his decision publicly until he had at least given Craig Bellamy the respect of talking to him face-to-face when he returns to Melbourne in early December.
Speaking in an extensive podcast interview with former NRL player Isaac John on YKTR Sports, the larrikin Kiwi also revealed how several more clubs had made a late play at trying to sign him including Penrith, Parramatta and Wests Tigers.
But by the sound of the impression the Roosters left on him, they are all wasting their time.
Asked when the decision would be made, he said: “The decision is made … but I’ve got to go talk to Bellsa and see what he says.
“It is going to be pretty emotional. I don’t know what to expect from that. I’m pretty nervous actually.”
And while he was in no way derogatory about his visit to the Dolphins or the Gold Coast Titans, he could hardly contain his excitement about the pitch put to him by the Roosters.
From his golf day with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend and Mitch Aubusson, to having a lunch of lobster and beers with influential board members, and hearing a presentation from Aubusson about the Roosters culture.
“It was actually mind blowing,” Smith told YKTR Sports.
“I can’t explain it … like I went and golfed with Jared, Aubo and Friendy, and Nick Politis was ringing them. He is over in LA on a business trip at the moment and he is ringing them up just to see how they are.
“And they spoke with so much passion about the club … I think the best thing about the Roosters, bro, they are about your life, not your footy.
“Like, they want you to be set for life. They don’t want you to walk away with nothing from rugby league. They just pushed that. They can tell you how they are going to help you with life … it was just mind blowing.”
He said Aubusson’s speech was especially emotional.
“Mitchy Aubo almost made me cry,” he continued.
“I’m not even kidding. How he spoke about the club and what they have done for him and the history of why they wear that jersey … I was just looking at the Roosters jersey as he was saying it, I had goose bumps. I was looking at it going, ‘I want to win a premiership in that jersey’.”
But it was cooking pizzas at Trent Robinson’s home as the Roosters coach served up his best red wine that seemed the clincher.
“He rang me up and was like, ‘I know you have been in the papers (touring other clubs) but I don’t want that, I want you to come over to my house’,” Smith explained.
“He speaks French at home. Like he speaks fluent French at home to his missus and kids … every time I’d go to the toilet I’d come back and they’d be speaking in French. I didn’t know if I was drunk and they were slurring their words.”
Smith said he arrived at Robinson’s home at about 5pm and didn’t leave until nearly 10: “I was meant to have dinner at 6.30 and I got there at like 5.05. And we just sat there and popped open red wine and we started drinking and it was the ‘micky’ red. It was like one of those wines you drink and you go, ‘oh, this is expensive. This shit don’t hurt the throat whatsoever’.
“We just talked about my life and he told me about his life and bro, the thing that really gets me (is) family and his love for culture. Like, Aboriginal culture, Maori culture, Samoan culture, Tongan culture. He can talk about it. He knows so much stuff about it. Reads books on all those things. And that to me is special because obviously I am a proud Maori man … for him to be like that is awesome.
“He pretty much persuaded me with his words.”
He said Robinson never brought up rugby league until the final half hour of their visit, but when he did it was extraordinary to listen to him.
“When he spoke about footy you could see his brain was ticking over,” Smith said.
“He just had so much stuff he wanted to say. I don’t know how to explain it.
“This is my first time I ever met him and it is like I’ve known him for my whole career.”
Dolphins rocked as Smith set to choose titles over cash
— Michael Carayannis
The Sydney Roosters are on the verge of landing their biggest signing since Cooper Cronk and Sonny Bill Williams with the tricolours emerging as the front-runners in the five-club race to land Melbourne ace Brandon Smith.
The Roosters wooed Smith this week with News Corp learning he was left impressed after meeting with coach Trent Robinson.
Smith is the hottest prospect of the NRL players off-contract at the end of 2022. The Storm want to keep the 25-year-old at the club while the Dolphins, Cowboys and Titans have also made bids to land the Kiwi international.
Smith has given the Storm assurances they would receive the last right of reply in keeping him at the club. But that has grown increasingly unlikely after his time spent with the Roosters last week.
Unless the Storm can convince him otherwise, Smith is expected to link up with the Roosters. The Dolphins have offered the richest deal worth about $800,000 for three years.
Smith spent this week mingling with the Roosters including a day on the golf course with New Zealand teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and a pair of retired Roosters — Jake Friend and Mitch Aubusson — on Wednesday.
If Smith does sign with the Roosters, his arrival in 2023 could match that of Cronk and Williams.
Cronk’s two-year stint in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in 2018-19 resulted in successive premierships and also ignited the feud between the Melbourne and the Roosters.
Smith toured the Dolphins earlier this month before detouring to Sydney ahead of his drive back to Melbourne.
It is understood the Roosters are unlikely to match the dollars on offer in Queensland, but will sell Smith on the idea of competing for premierships.
Smith has spent his off-season touring three Queensland clubs – having also spent time at the Cowboys and the Gold Coast.
His manager, Stan Martin, sent an email to all 16 clubs at 5.59am on November 1 asking clubs to show their interest in Smith.
Smith has made it known he wants to start at hooker. Long-term rake Friend retired because of concussion earlier this year while premiership winning hooker Sam Verrills still has three years left on his deal.
The Storm’s roster has been savaged in recent years. They lost Josh Addo-Carr, Nicho Hynes and Dale Finucane ahead of 2022 while backrower Felise Kaufusi will play out next season at the Storm before joining the Dolphins on a three-year deal.
The Roosters will lock down Joey Manu on a long-term contract. Their other off-contracted players include Angus Crichton, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Lachlan Lam. Boom youngster Joseph Suaalii has a player option for seasons 2023 and 2024.
Originally published as NRL Transfers: Brandon Smith’s contract call leaves Dolphins in the lurch
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