Brandon Smith’s South Sydney comments sure to enrage the Roosters

Sidelined hooker Brandon Smith didn’t hold back his love for his “favourite team” in comments that will enrage the Sydney Roosters.

Brandon Smith will have raised eyebrows and the blood pressure of the Sydney Roosters after his gushing comments on a rival club.

The controversial hooker, who is rehabbing a serious knee injury, is in the final season of a three-year, $2.5 million contract with the Tricolours.

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With Cowboys hooker Reece Robson joining the Roosters in 2026, it’s understood the 28-year-old Smith won’t be offered a new deal at the club and he has been linked with a number of moves away from Bondi Junction.

His remarks on The Bye Round podcast with James Graham may expedite those proceedings after the Kiwi international expressed his love for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Brandon Smith didn’t hold back his love of South Sydney. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Prior to his move from the Melbourne Storm to the Roosters, Smith was linked with a switch to Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins in 2023.

Smith then changed his mind at the last minute to join Trent Robinson at the Roosters, but Bunnies coach Bennett has confirmed his interest in the hooker remains.

“Well, I wanted him at the Dolphins and nothing’s changed,” Bennett told AAP this week.

“I’d love to see him at South Sydney, so hopefully we can get to the negotiating table and get a deal.”

When he was pressed on whether he could get his hands on Smith this year, Bennett replied: “I’m just hoping right now.”

Rabbitohs head coach Wayne Bennett is desperate to recruit the Kiwi hooker. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Smith didn’t hide his feelings after learning of those comments from the master coach.

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

“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.”

Amid rumours a move to Souths might be confirmed in the coming days, Smith was asked if there was a time frame on a potential shift to Redfern.

“Not really,” he said. “Like I don’t know what the go is, yeah.”

Smith is slated to return from his torn ACL in June. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Surely adding some extra fire to Smith’s comments among the fan bases is the established hatred between the Roosters and Souths.

Smith, who has been embroiled in off-field controversies along with injury issues during his time at the Roosters, then dropped a stunning comment over his links with the Rabbitohs.

“Souths was my favourite team as a kid,” he declared.

“My playing strip – I’ll get my parents to send one up – but my playing strip as a junior was red and green.”

He also hoped his snubbing of Bennett two years ago is now water under the bridge.

“When I broke my promise with him, I was speaking to Matty Johns about it and he was like ‘mate, how many times has he done that to a club’,” Smith recalled.

“I was like yeah, you’re right, but I felt pretty bad.

“Hopefully he’s forgiven me.”

Originally published as Brandon Smith’s South Sydney comments sure to enrage the Roosters