‘What did you say bro?’: Brandon Smith rages at crowd over sin bin

Melbourne Storm star Brandon Smith has talked back to the crowd after his side copped an unthinkable hiding in Cronulla.

Craig Bellamy couldn't believe it. Photo: Fox Sports

The Cronulla Sharks have sent a warning to the rest of the NRL after blowing away the Melbourne Storm 28-6 at Pointsbet Stadium on Thursday night.

The Storm were uncharacteristically pummelled as the Sharks opened up a 20-0 lead at halftime, the biggest deficit Melbourne have faced since 2014.

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But while it didn’t get that much worse on the scoreboard in the second half, Brandon Smith was sent to the sin bin for dissent after mouthing off to the referee after he felt he deserved a penalty after a bustling run and he appeared to be held down by Aiden Tolman.

The comment wasn’t picked up by referee Adam Gee, who said: “I’m not even going to repeat what he said”.

As he left the field for his 10 minute penalty, the Sharks fans let him know where to go.

Smith also waved to the crowd.

Just before reaching the sheds, Smith turned back and said: “What did you say bro?” to one of the members of the crowd before he was ushered into the tunnel.

Speaking to ABC Radio after the game, Smith said: “There were a few nasty words said, I didn’t like it at all. Normally people are nice to me!”

Brandon Smith waved at the crowd. Photo: Fox Sports

Footage of coach Craig Bellamy in the coach’s box saw the legendary mentor mouth agape at the scene before him.

“Again, an example of where the Melbourne Storm are at, Craig Bellamy will be filthy, he will not be happy at all,” Braith Anasta said in commentary.

After the game, Smith took the sin bin the chin.

“My mouth, it always gets me in trouble,” he told Channel 9.

“I said something to the ref that probably shouldn’t be said. I got sent off, and rightly so, you’re not allowed to do that stuff.”

Bellamy didn’t know what Smith said but added: “We don’t want our players showing that disrespect for the referees and I can only say it won’t happen again.

“I don’t know why he would say something there. It was probably one of our best sets for play the ball speed. But the referee’s done it for a reason. It usually comes when you’re defending. I’ll have a chat to Brandon.”

Brandon Smith fired up. Photo: Fox Sports

It was a bloodbath rarely seen against the Storm.

The Storm were down Cameron Munster and Harry Grant due to Origin duty, while Felise Kaufusi was out for personal reasons after his father was hospitalised.

However, the likes of Ryan Papenhuyzen, Justin Olam, Jahrome Hughes, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Brandon Smith all played.

The Sharks were also not full strength down Siosifa Talakai through Origin, while Nicho Hynes and Toby Rudolf were out through Covid protocols.

But the Sharks were on fire, blowing the Storm off the park from the early stages.

In commentary at halftime, Warren Smith said the loss was more troubling for the remainder of the season, having lost four of their last seven games.

It also sees the Storm drop out of second on the ladder and will finish the round in third but on equal points with the Cowboys and Sharks.

“There’s not much talk up there at the moment in the Melbourne Storm coach’s box,” Smith said.

“They’ve got a lot on their minds quite obviously, not just what’s happening in front of them but what’s been happening around this game and what’s happening for the second half of the season.”

Braith Anasta said: “This is not a quick fix and I can’t see them coming out and putting points on quickly from what I’ve seen in the opening 40 minutes of this game.”

For the Sharks, Matt Moylan had dominated despite the lack of Hynes.

“He has been outstanding and he has the Sharks running downhill, on top. One of the best 40 minutes we’ve seen this year,” Cooper Cronk said on Fox League at the break.

On ABC radio, former coach Matthew Elliot said: “This is the best half of footy from an #NRL side I’ve seen in attack this year.”

Newscorp sports producer Tim Michell wrote: “This has been a horror watch from the Storm. Sharks very very good though.”

After the game, Bellamy said he didn’t think his side deserved to be 20-0 down at halftime.

“Our effort in the first half was pretty good. With all due respect, their first half footy was off the charts,” he said.

Craig Bellamy couldn't believe it. Photo: Fox Sports

Halfway through the second half without no change to the score, Anasta and Smith were blown away when launching a captain’s challenge after Marion Seve appeared to take out Ronaldo Mulitalo when contesting a bomb.

Seve clearly wasn’t watching the ball but rather than man, and the commentators slammed the Storm.

“You may as well throw it in the bin,” Anasta said. “That’s lunacy.”

Smith added: “This might be the worst captain’s challenge of the season.

“It’s only a small thing but it’s a small window into the Melbourne Storm mindset — they’re desperate.”

Incredibly, the Storm crossed the line late, but were denied through obstruction, before the Sharks scored at the other end.

The Storm then scored the final try to at least not lost to nil.