St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin says Dragons unlikely to chase Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith

Shockwaves were sent through the NRL on Monday when a secret email revealed that Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith would be granted an early release.

St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin says it is unlikely the Dragons will pursue Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith for the 2022 season. Picture: Jono Searle/Getty Images.

St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin says it is unlikely the Dragons will pursue Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith for the 2022 season, but the club has the salary cap space to make a couple of purchases over the off-season.

Shockwaves were sent through the NRL on Monday when a secret email sent to 14 clubs revealed that Smith would be granted an early release from the Storm.

Melbourne will allow their champion hooker to leave after next season provided the club secures “commensurate compensation” in return.

The return of Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant has prompted Smith to look for another club, with his manager Stan Martin saying in the email his client wants to “play exclusively at hooker”.

Smith, 24, will remain at Melbourne next season before seeking a release from the final year of his deal in 2022. He is earning around $425,000 a season but could attract more money on the NRL open market.

Brandon Smith wants to play exclusively at hooker. Picture: AAP Image/David Crosling

Griffin confirmed St George Illawarra also received the email about Smith’s release but admitted the club hadn’t discussed his name.

He said the Dragons were focused on signing at least two players over the summer with space in the salary cap.

“I don’t know about (Smith),” Griffin told The Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday.

“We’ve got people like Cam McInnes, Ben Hunt. and a couple of young hookers in the system.

“That is something we haven’t addressed, but we do have some capacity left, which we are being patient with.

“Over the off-season we will pick up a couple of more purchases, but we certainly haven’t been down that path to look at Brandon.”

Griffin, though, was happy to have a laugh about Smith’s release email being sent to most of the competition.

St George Illawarra coach Anthony Griffin has revealed he is leaning towards shifting million-dollar man Ben Hunt back to halfback following his stint at hooker last season. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.

“It is a nice story that one – everyone got an email,” he said.

“I think everyone got an email because they are covering their tracks by the sounds of it.”

On the field, Griffin revealed he was leaning towards shifting million-dollar man Ben Hunt back to halfback following his stint at hooker last season.

Hunt played eight of his 19 games last season at starting hooker, including another four games off the interchange bench.

Griffin, though, believes the Queensland and Australian representative is a No 7.

“Ben is a halfback who has played finals football, grand finals and Origin,” he said.

“He can do it at halfback, and he is coming to a point in his career where he is 30, so to really fulfil his career it is important for him to play his best football over the next two to three years.”