Brandon Smith faces prospect of messy Melbourne Storm divorce

Brandon Smith’s infamous podcast interview has reportedly made Storm powerbrokers furious as they weigh up a shock call on the star rake.

Brandon Smith's comments on a podcast has reportedly caused quite the stir at Storm HQ. Picture: Getty Images

Brandon Smith could find himself kicked to the kerb by the Melbourne Storm as his appearance on the YKTR Sports podcast has reportedly caused a stir at Storm HQ.

So much so that the Victorian club are seriously weighing up the prospect of cutting the Kiwi loose with one year left to run on his current deal.

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Given Smith will be a free agent at the end of the 2022 season, his playing future has been arguably the biggest story of the off-season as a number of clubs have rolled out the red carpet to impress the star.

The Titans, Dolphins, Cowboys and Roosters all made their pitch to lock in Smith from 2023 onwards, but his comments on the YKTR Sports podcast appeared to have narrowed down the chase to one team.

“I was just looking at the Roosters jersey … going, ‘I want to win a premiership in that jersey’,” Smith said.

Melbourne Storm star Brandon Smith is expected to sign with the Roosters. ,, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCW6JkY608Q,

The 25-year-old continued to speak glowingly about the Bondi club on the podcast, and according to numerous reports, it has not gone down well with the powers that be at the Storm.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, senior figures at the Storm are furious at Smith’s comments considering he’s still a contracted player with the club and are seriously considering the possibility of cutting the hooker loose.

The Kiwi was reportedly going to give the Storm the final word in a last-ditch attempt to persuade him to stay with the club, but any goodwill now appears to have gone out the window, such is the feeling at the club.

But a report from The Daily Telegraph claims Melbourne might not be so willing to sever ties with Smith, largely because two of their forwards are having issues of their own.

Craig Bellamy was set for a discussion with Smith to make a final play at keeping the star rake, but that appears off the table now. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s unwillingness to get vaccinated coupled with Tui Kamikamica facing police charges means the Storm will likely need Smith to play a part this season, no matter his comments on the Roosters.

Smith’s appearance on the YKTR Sports podcast didn’t just draw the ire of those at the Storm, either.

Veteran rugby league journalist Phil Rothfield took aim at the star, labelling his comments about the Roosters as ”way out of order”.

“I think it was highly disrespectful to his club, Melbourne Storm,” Rothfield told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast. “I think this is a similar situation to (Viliame) Kikau putting on a Canterbury Bulldogs jersey.

“Now, Brandon Smith is on big, big money at the Storm. He came over as a kid from New Zealand, he got the benefit of great coaching from people like Craig Bellamy, learning under Cameron Smith, (Cooper) Cronk, (Billy) Slater to become a marquee player.

“But he’s contracted there for another 12 months; he’s 16 months away from joining the Roosters, which he’s obviously going to do.

“But to start talking about winning a premiership, and his dream of doing that in a Roosters jersey, I think personally is way out of order.

“And I think he’s got to go home this week, he’s got to tell Melbourne Storm, he’s got to have a meeting with Craig Bellamy, and I don’t think it’s going to be all that pleasant.

“Brandon Smith, if he’d been a bit smarter, would have held that interview … until he told Melbourne, and then toned it down a little bit, throw in a few lines about his commitment to the Storm for the next twelve months.

“What he’s said makes me wonder if he’s trying to get out of there a year early and join the Roosters next year.

“I was really, really disappointed. He’s a great character. One of the beauties of Brandon Smith is that he tells it how it is and there are no cliches. He’s open and honest in whatever he says, but I was really disappointed.”