Sydney Roosters hooker Brandon Smith on breach notice for missing team meeting

Brandon Smith says he went to a dark place as he dealt with the fallout from his breach notice, and revealed his awkward run-in with coach Trent Robinson.

DAILY TELEGRAPH. Brandon Smith at Sydney Roosters team training at Moore Park. Monday 10/06/2024. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

A remorseful Brandon Smith says he has let down people at the Sydney Roosters and has vowed to focus on what is really important after receiving a breach notice for missing a team meeting last week.

Smith, whose future at the Roosters has come under scrutiny in the wake of revelations that he had been handed an official warning, says he went to a dark place as he dealt with the fallout from his indiscretion.

“It put me on notice that it is not good enough obviously,” Smith told The Bye Round Podcast with James Graham.

“So I was the first one into training this morning. I feel like I let people down and I don’t like to let people down.

“It has definitely made me want to chill out a bit and focus on what is really important. Obviously I got breached for … missing the meeting.

“It was dumb (of) me first of all. I went out for a coffee with my missus and she doesn’t like it when I take my phone out because I ignore her.

“So I left my phone at home. The reason it is my fault is because you check the schedule before you go to sleep.

“I missed the meeting — that was the problem.”

Brandon Smith ran into coach Trent Robinson at the beach. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Smith, who has one year remaining on his deal with the Roosters, says he feared the worst after receiving the breach notice.

“I was starting to think I was going to get sacked, myself,” he said. “It was a pretty epic couple of days. Thankfully I went in today and it was all good. The boys were funny, making fun of me.”

Smith revealed that another club official – not coach Trent Robinson – informed him of his breach.

“I only saw one guy – it wasn’t Robbo,” Smith said.

“It was more of a telling off. I was pretty sad at the time. I was pretty sad about the game (against North Queensland) to be honest.

“The talk was about the breach and then I was pretty sad so I chilled at home. Stayed off social media. Went pretty dark for a bit, didn’t go on my phone, just dealt with it internally.

“I think you get three breaches (before being sacked). It is a warning but also a fine. If I get that second breach I pay that fine.

“But you don’t want a second breach.”

The Roosters players were given time off after the Cowboys game but Smith couldn’t avoid Robinson.

“I saw Robbo at the beach on Sunday,” he said.

“I saw him talking to Lindsay Collins on the hill. I waited for Robbo to go. Then I went over to see Lindsay.

“Then I saw Robbo come back around from the water and I had to bump into him and face the thunder. It was all good.”

‘Not good enough’: Rooster teammates come down heavy on Smith

-Fatima Kdouh

Victor Radley believes Brandon Smith will have to learn the ‘hard way’ what it takes to play under coach Trent Robinson as teammate Luke Keary said missing a team meeting is ‘not good enough’.

It comes after Smith was issued a breach notice by the club for showing up late to a mid-season review after sleeping in.

Smith trained with the squad on Monday morning but it is unclear whether the No. 9 will miss any game time as a result of the indiscretion.

Utility Connor Watson is in line to return from a throat injury this week against Parramatta and can provide cover for Smith at hooker if he isn't named on Tuesday.

There is some confusion surrounding the issue after Smith claimed that he was unaware a meeting had been scheduled, while his manager said the hooker had slept in.

But speaking on Monday, Keary said the club had been diligent in informing players about the meeting.

“It is pretty black and white,” Keary said.

“(But) these things do happen sometimes. People sleep in or something happens. It wasn’t good enough. We’ve dealt with it internally, which is how we want to keep it.

“There are some standards here that have been around this joint for a long time. A lot of those older boys have put those standards in. We all adhere to them. Brandon is no different. When you don’t adhere to them you get punished.”

Smith trained with the team on Monday. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Radley said it was reasonable to believe Smith did not know the team meeting had been scheduled.

“Technology these days … the apps that we use for this stuff, it can get missed,” Radley said.

“I’m pretty cluey … I get here two hours before every single day. I hate even being near late. Some people are different and fly by the wind a bit so I can understand how you can miss it.”

Radley is no stranger to finding himself into headlines for all the wrong reasons.

While Radley has turned a corner in recent times, back in 2021 he was hit with a two-game ban and $20,000 fine for tackling a man on the street in Byron Bay.

Later that year he was removed from a flight for being intoxicated and drew a scathing rebuke from coach Trent Robinson, who challenged the forward to ‘act like a man’.

Radley has been on straight and narrow since and believes the breach notice will help Smith turn a corner.

“A little thing like that can be beneficial,” Radley said.

“I know, I learned everything the hard way. A lot of rugby league players are similar, I think Brandon and I are bit. You have to learn everything the hard way. I’ve been told so many lessons in my life. I have done things, been in trouble for it and only then learned. It’s another one for him, but he’ll be right.”

Victor Radley says it’s a good lesson for Smith. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Radley said the incident would serve as a wake-up call for Smith, who wants to repay the side for failing to meet team standards.

“It’s a kick up the arse for him,” Radley said.

“You can almost see, he’s got hair cut, he’s had a shave. He honestly looks like, ‘You know, I’ll be on for the rest of the season’. Any time I have been in strife, you feel like you want to pay the boys back and you do that by playing good footy.”

Smith won’t be forced to front club officials to respond to the breach notice, that has served as a formal warning.

The hooker took up an option keeping him at the club until the end of 2025 but there is speculation about his future at Bondi moving forward.

In a boost for the Roosters ahead of Saturday’s clash against Parramatta veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is on track to overcome a minor back injury to take the field alongside Watson, who hasn't played since round 11.

While Junior Pauga is the front runner to replace Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii after he accepted a four week ban for a high shot of Reece Walsh during State of Origin game one last Wednesday night.