Brandon Smith f-bomb furore: RLPA go into bat for Storm star as NRL weigh up podcast punishment

He may be facing a massive battle to save his Storm career but Brandon Smith can count on the backing of the RLPA if the NRL deems his foul-mouthed podcast appearance worthy of a fine.

The players union has warned the NRL to tread carefully as they weigh up whether to sanction Brandon Smith over his foul-mouthed podcast appearance, suggesting Melbourne and the game itself have prospered from his unfiltered persona.

Smith unleashed a torrent of expletives during an appearance on the YKTR podcast at the weekend, prompting NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo to open an investigation into the matter.

Smith is already facing a backlash from Storm and their supporters over his comments about the club’s drinking culture. However, he could yet receive a financial penalty from the NRL as Abdo decides whether he has brought the game into disrepute with his use of colourful language during a 55-minute interview with YKTR founder Isaac John.

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Brandon Smith is under fire for his unfiltered podcast appearance.

If he is hit in the hip pocket, it will be against the wishes of the RLPA. Asked whether he would be disappointed if Smith was fined, RLPA bos Clint Newton was unequivocal as he hinted at the potential for double standards given the NRL’s inaction against Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire earlier this year after he was captured using foul language during Fox League’s “Tales from Tigertown’ documentary.

“Are they going to go and fine Michael Maguire?” Newton said.

“What is the scope here? We have some great characters in our game. People are not always going to get it right. There are no doubt some lessons to be learned out of that.

“Brandon has already come out and said he has learnt a couple of things from how he went about it.

“He has apologised to the Storm and the club.”

An apology may not be enough to save his career at the Storm given the widespread disappointment with his comments. Senior officials are believed to be furious with Smith and talks at the weekend with chair Matt Tripp and coach Craig Bellamy are expected to decide whether he plays with the club this season or is told he is free to make an immediate switch to the Sydney Roosters - he has agreed terms on a deal with the Roosters from 2023.

Before then, he is expected to discover his fate from the NRL. Newton believes head office needs to also take into account the environment in which the interview took place before landing on a final destination.

“Brandon went on the podcast with a certain subscriber base,” Newton said.

“It is an opt-in program. The language he used was certainly colourful but it was a specific medium.

Smith may find himself playing for the Roosters sooner than he imagined/

“It is common for athletes to go on those platforms and speak really differently. I think that is what engages the audience.

“It doesn’t jump into your lounge-room in the middle of a game when your kids are sitting there.

“Brandon is a character who the rugby league community have absolutely embraced over the last couple of years.

“The game and Melbourne have prospered from his style. He is fun, he is who he is. He is going to make mistakes but he is also unashamedly trying to be who he wants to be.

“I think there is a fair bit of courage in that, too. I think some of the challenges for players is feeling safe enough to be authentic.”

Snowflakes or triggered: Smith’s f-bombs split league fans

- Paul Crawley and Dean Ritchie

It’s the most polarising issue in rugby league. Brandon Smith’s controversial interview on a recent podcast has divided opinion.

Was the Melbourne star just being honest regarding his future, the Sydney Roosters meeting, the Storm and their playing culture? Or, was the Roosters-bound hooker disrespectful and out of line with his use of profanities during the 56-minute YTRK podcast?

The Daily Telegraph reporters Paul Crawley and Dean Ritchie have very opposing views.

Brandon Smith is one of the NRL’s great characters. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

DON’T KILL OFF LEAGUE’S FEW CHARACTERS

— Paul Crawley

Brandon Smith is one of the great characters in the modern game. Don’t ruin him. Don’t make him feel guilty for being a bit rough around the edges. For showing his true personality in public. For being one of the most refreshingly honest individuals our game has unearthed in a very long time. I’d go as far as to say since Tommy Raudonikis.

Now there’s a comparison.

Just imagine if some of the stories Tommy used to tell at his many guest appearances on stage at long lunches over the years were ever broadcast over the internet?

Yes, the world has changed. But I’d argue not for the better in many instances, and this is one of them.

Now I understand the concern that interviews like this could be a turn off for some parents, fearing it might create a bad example for young children. And that is an obvious concern for the NRL.

But let’s also put that in context. Because in this forum Smith obviously felt it was acceptable because he was not speaking on mainstream TV or on radio, but on a podcast with a former NRL player that caters to a specific audience.

And the fact that YKTR host Isaac John also felt comfortable letting slip of the dreaded F-bomb on numerous occasions suggested some loose language in this market is not only accepted but expected.

Which is why it is not for everyone.

But I can honestly say that not once did I feel Smith was being disrespectful to anyone or anything throughout the entire near hour-long interview.

On the contrary, it was the raw truth that you always crave but rarely get. And as a result it was fascinating.

When he spoke about Craig Bellamy being “an old f*****” it was as a term of endearment at how hard his coach worked to set a good example.

And when he told the story about how the Melbourne Storm had a drinking culture, what Smith was really getting at was how the playing group have such a tight bond — because they live so close together yet so far away from their families, teammates become family.

Brandon Smith is under fire for his unfiltered podcast appearance.

And when Smith spoke about all the clubs he had visited on his travelling sideshow down the eastern seaboard he was completely respectful to all, yet his insight into the attention to detail the Roosters went to was extraordinary.

It was a lesson for every other club out there that over the years has bitched and moaned about the Roosters’ so-called salary cap sombrero, that there is more to wooing a top player than simply throwing money at him.

And while Melbourne may have been upset about the fact Smith said the Roosters are a tighter club overall because of the relationship between the players and the administration, he was just being honest. Still extremely glowing of his relationship with Bellamy and footy boss Frank Ponissi.

You could go on and on.

I loved the story he told about how Cameron Smith would spray WD40 over his joints after every training session and game.

But now all that is being hijacked because Smith blurted out 61 f**** and 3 c**** during a 56-minute chat.

Brandon Smith revealed his deep admiration for former Melbourne teammate and friend, Cameron Smith. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

I’ve got to admit, when I first finished listening to the interview on Sunday night I thought to myself this would end in a blow-up because of the colourful language, but I really hoped people would see past it for what it was.

Though it seems the days when characters like Smith and Tommy could just be themselves has passed. Now the priority is to make sure when don’t overstep the politically correct boundaries that govern the modern world ruled by social media outrage.

It’s such a shame.

PODCAST PERFORMANCE NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF

— Dean Ritchie

What kind of an uncouth and loutish society do we live in when a high-profile sportsman is applauded, even celebrated, for saying f... and c... numerous times on a public platform?

What kind of boorish and crude online trolls actually think this acceptable?

My goodness, hasn’t society become coarse.

Brandon Smith dropped 61 f-bombs times and used the c-word three times in a 55-minute interview. I’m not sure what is more unpalatable – Smith’s choice of words or the oafish support he received.

The trolls claimed Smith was at liberty to express himself that way because this wasn’t mainstream media and the podcast owners posted an explicit language warning.

Smith has a responsibility to the game, his club, teammates, even his family, to respect and honour the game which pays him so handsomely.

Re Brandon Smith story today: You can’t have a star player using the f-bomb 61 times - and saying c..t three times - in a public interview. It’s been watched by 20,000 people. Hardly throwing out the image rugby league wants to mums and kids@dailytelegraph

— Dean Ritchie (@BulldogRitchie) November 29, 2021

Using such gross language was completely intolerable for a star player.

This is a public podcast open to mums, dads, kids, grandparents. I wonder how many of the trolls would allow their impressionable children to digest such vulgarity?

Had Smith slipped out the f-bomb or c..., once, maybe twice, you could perhaps exonerate him. But 64 times?

I acknowledge such potty-mouth talk in the front bar of a local – but not on a public podcast.

How was he allowed on this podcast? Was it sanctioned by Melbourne Storm? Did he not think such terminology would lead to unrest?

These podcasts attract the big names in a sport where mainstream media – with trained and trusted journalists – are often denied access by clubs. And this is exactly what happens.

And what about the role of host Isaac John, the former NRL player? John himself said f... 18 times. That set the tone and Smith - John’s friend - followed.

John may have secured 25,000 online hits but talk about hanging his mate out to dry.

Without wanting to discourage free speech, John could have quietly told Smith to pull back, cut out the language and stop denigrating the Storm. Maybe save Smith from himself.

Former NRL player Isaac John on the YKTR Podcast.

But, no, John ensured the cameras and microphones were rolling for every cringe-worthy moment. Some mate.

Thankfully, there is a divide between social media and the general public.

While the Twitter haters had a hissy-fit over criticism directed at Smith, the more considered fans let their thoughts be known via an online Daily Telegraph poll, where 70 per cent voted for Smith to be fined by the NRL for his language.

Smith called his coach, Craig Bellamy, a true coaching master, an “old f****er.” He demeaned his club and teammates, even embarrassed the universally liked Dale Finucane.

Bravo, Brandon.

And bravo to your online fans who lapped up your profanities.

What a proud day for our great game.

Originally published as Brandon Smith f-bomb furore: RLPA go into bat for Storm star as NRL weigh up podcast punishment