Hilarious note outs rogue NRL star for breaking golden rule

Melbourne’s Brandon Smith has been in terrific form but a hilarious letter has revealed the one golden rule he has broken.

Former NRL prop Bryce Gibbs had some stern words for Melbourne's Brandon Smith

Melbourne’s Brandon Smith has had a superb start to the NRL season, making the task of filling Cameron Smith’s shoes at hooker for the Storm look easy.

But his meteoric rise and playmaking skills have put some members of the “front rowers” fraternity off side.

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A hilarious letter posted to social media over the weekend warned Smith’s “F.R.U. (Front Rowers Union) membership” would be “terminated effective immediately” if he continued his try-scoring form against the New Zealand Warriors.

The letter was posted to Twitter by ex-NRL star Joel Caine.

Found in Dressing sheds after Storm v Titans last weekend 😱@bryceegibbspic.twitter.com/t5MqsVJal6

— Joel Caine (@JoelCaine) June 13, 2021

The tongue-in-cheek note, alleged to have been written by ex-NRL prop Bryce Gibbs, called out Smith’s ability to find the tryline and urged him to display a more dour style of play traditionally seen from front rowers.

“As you know the number one creed of the F.R.U. is that players, who don a number 8, 9 or 10 should see tries scored by accident only,” the letter reads.

“You have now scored 7 tries this year and 6 in the last 5 weeks alone.”

The letter also noted that Smith’s namesake and predecessor in the No. 9 position at Melbourne “scored the same amount of tries that you have in 5 weeks, in his last 3 seasons, a True F.R.U. luminary”.

Gibbs only managed to score four tries across his 197-game NRL career with the Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sharks.

It’s unclear if he actually wrote the hilarious note, or if someone has decided to use Gibbs as the F.R.U. figurehead.

Former Tigers prop Bryce Gibbs called out Melbourne’s Storm for scoring too many tries and letting the Front Rowers Union down. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

“Mr. Smith, if you are anywhere near the try line v the Warriors it is highly recommended by the F.R.U. board that you are thinking Pass NOT run,” the letter read.

“We hope you heed the advice and remain in the F.R.U,” the letter ends, complete with a handwritten signature.

Unfortunately for Smith, he didn’t heed the letter’s warning, going over for a try in the first half of Melbourne’s comprehensive win over the Warriors on Sunday.

And it appears his days in the Front Rowers Union are numbered after Gibbs retweeted the letter with three clapping emojis, before replying “He’s gone”, when a follower suggested Smith be expelled from the unofficial group.

He's gone

— bryce gibbs (@bryceegibbs) June 13, 2021

The 25-year-old rising star was instrumental in the Storm’s 42-16 demolition, combining with fellow young gun Harry Grant to pick the Warriors’ defence apart at will.

He was kept quiet behind a well-beaten pack in the Origin opener, but Grant showed why Melbourne had been grooming him to be its next long-term rake as he put in a stellar performance.

In his first club game since Round 9, the crafty hooker came on after 21 minutes and made an instant impact when he darted from dummy-half to help set up the Storm’s first try.

He was at it again five minutes later when he played short to Smith to send his partner in crime over for a gift four points, grubbered through to set up Jahrome Hughes for the first try of the second half and then burrowed over for his own meat pie in the closing stages.

Grant’s one-two punch with Smith is one of the most damaging combinations in the game and a reason why they’ve scored the most points of any team through 14 rounds, although the latter is on report for a high shot on Josh Curran.

“I thought he (Grant) was outstanding,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.

“I’m really happy with both those guys.”

Melbourne’s Brandon Smith has been in great form for the Storm this season. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)