Brandon Smith joins Roosters exodus as NRL rival pays big transfer fee to get star mid-season

The Sydney Roosters have shown Brandon Smith the door with a rival club coughing up money to secure an immediate departure.

The Sydney Roosters are reportedly set to release hooker Brandon Smith to arch rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs effective immediately.

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Hot on the heels of bombshell news that gun winger Dominic Young was free to leave, and with Terrell May’s off-season axing fresh in mind amid his hot form at Wests Tigers, CODE Sports reported the Roosters and Souths have been in negotiations for a release over the past 48 hours. A deal is expected to be reached by the end of the week.

Under the terms of the agreement, Souths will have to pay $180,000 in the form of a transfer fee to secure Smith for the rest of the 2025 season.

The Roosters will use the money they are saving from Smith’s $800,000 a year contract to top up a number of rising stars including Naufahu Whyte and Blake Steep who have performed so impressively in recent times.

The saving could also be used for their reported big money move to sign Daly Cherry-Evans for 2026.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 02: Brandon Smith of the Roosters reacts during the round 13 NRL match between Sydney Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium, on June 02, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Smith is due back from ACL injury in around six weeks, but the Roosters have Connor Watson playing well and Sandon Smith as another hooker option when Sam Walker returns to the halves.

Smith struggled to reach the heights of his Storm career ar the Roosters and negotiated a three year deal with Souths from 2026, which will now be brought forward.

Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennet said in March Smith was a “100 per cent” player he wanted in his team.

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

”He’s just 100 per cent. Like Cam Murray and those players, they just give their absolute best every time they get on the footy field.

“They don’t always get it right, but you know that the one thing they’re doing is just competing for everything and they’re giving their best for the side.”

Originally published as Brandon Smith joins Roosters exodus as NRL rival pays big transfer fee to get star mid-season