Storm slapped back over Brandon Smith player swap offer

The Storm have reportedly been rejected after tabling a player-swap offer that would have seen Brandon Smith leave immediately.

Brandon Smith. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Brandon Smith’s split from the Melbourne Storm is getting messier by the day.

The star hooker’s tumultuous month has included reports the Storm are open to shipping him out of the club with a full season to run on his contract following a trainwreck podcast where he said he wants to win a premiership in a Roosters jumper.

Given Smith is a free agent at the end of the 2022 season, his playing future has been arguably the biggest story of the NRL off-season with the Roosters, Titans, Cowboys and Dolphins all reportedly in the hunt for his signature.

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The situation with the Storm turned sour following the release of Smith’s appearance on the YKTR Sports podcast where he also appeared to divulge information about the club’s off-field behaviour.

The Storm also issued a statement saying the club was “deeply offended” by Smith’s remarks, which included a series of expletives that have resulted in the NRL integrity unit reviewing Smith’s behaviour for potential breaches of contract.

It has now been revealed how serious the Storm is about cutting Smith loose early with a report the club has reached out to the Wests Tigers to discuss a player swap for the 2022 NRL season.

The Sydney Morning Herald, reports the Tigers rejected the Storm’s approach when the club came to them with an offer that would see Smith and Stefano Utoikamanu swap places.

Utoikamanu is a prop forward and securing Smith on a one-year deal before he reportedly links up with the Roosters would not have an impact on the Tigers’ plans surrounding hooker Api Koroisau.

The club announced Friday Koroisau will join the Tigers from 2023.

New Tigers football boss Tim Sheens and Storm coach Craig Bellamy reportedly discussed Smith’s potential transfer before the western Sydney club pulled out when the Storm asked for Utoikamanu in return.

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

The Tigers were also said to have Smith’s recent rejection “fresh” in their minds.

According to the Herald, “There is growing speculation the Storm have been shopping Smith to other clubs”.

The report added: “Melbourne counter this by claiming rival clubs have sniffed “panic” when it’s not there, offering to take Smith off their hands if they want to get rid of him.”

The Tigers already have plenty to celebrate with the signing of Koroisau.

A hooker as crafty as he is hardworking, Koroisau was instrumental in the Panthers’ charge to both the 2020 and 2021 deciders, providing vital big-game experience in the first of those premiership bids.

Koroisau, 29, will reunite with the man who coached the Rabbitohs to that premiership, Michael Maguire, when he joins the Tigers.

Koroisau has become the latest in a string of premiership-winning Panthers to exit the club.

Playmaker-turned-centre Matt Burton has defected to the Bulldogs from next season and will be joined by Viliame Kikau in 2023.

Kurt Capewell, meanwhile, is heading home to Queensland from 2022, having signed a contract with the Brisbane Broncos.

Axed by the Panthers, polarising utility Tyrone May is bound for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League.

The Tigers, meanwhile, are preparing to welcome a handful of stars next season.

Former Origin utility Tyrone Peachey and 2019 Man of Steel winner Jackson Hastings headline the new arrivals.