Brandon Smith set to join South Sydney effective immediately from Sydney Roosters

Brandon Smith has all but confirmed he’s played his last game for the Roosters, revealing the phone call between himself and Trent Robinson that confirmed he was no longer wanted at the club.

Brandon Smith has spoken for the first time of his impending departure from the Sydney Roosters as he prepares for a mid-year transfer to arch rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The two clubs have been in secret negotiations over a release from the Roosters and a deal is imminent according to sources with knowledge of the recent talks.

It was the Rabbitohs who initiated the talks three weeks ago.

Smith broke his silence on The Bye Round podcast on Wednesday night about his impending switch.

He revealed he received a phone call from Roosters coach Trent Robinson after this masthead broke the story at 10am on Wednesday that he was to switch clubs.

“Robbo rang me and it was a good conversation,” Smith said on the podcast, “He was nice.

“He said he was just trying to save some money. It was pretty direct.

“He was surprised though how it had come out.”

Smith says he has almost certainly worn the Roosters jersey to the last time.

Brandon Smith is Rabbitohs bound. Picture: NRL Photos

“It definitely looks that way, looks like I’m not really wanted,” he said.

“It’s going to be hard to go to training. It’s going to be a weird feeling.

“Things have been happening in the background but I haven’t been part of the negotiations.

“I woke up this morning and got a phone call from my manager. It was a strange one.”

Souths are of the understanding that Smith has been told by the Roosters he will play reserve grade when he is fit to make his comeback from ACL surgery close to round 15.

Brandon Smith is on the mend from an ACL injury. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Typically, nothing ever happens between arch rivals the Roosters and the Rabbitohs without some drama.

Hence the delay in the transfer is the two clubs haggling over the financial settlement.

The Roosters are demanding $200,000 for the rest of the season while Souths are struggling to find the cap space to go above $160,000.

Smith is due back from the knee surgery in around six weeks.

South boss Blake Solly confirmed the Rabbitohs wanted Smith this year.

He was careful with his comments because of legal restraints in talking to a player still under contract to a rival club.

Brandon Smith is heading crosstown to the Rabbitohs. Credit: NRL Images.

“At the moment Brandon hasn’t been released by the Roosters,” Solly said.

“We’ve been clear it would be great to see him here this season but we have minimal cap space.

“It’s a matter of seeing how Brandon and his manager’s discussions with the Roosters go.”

The Roosters’ outstanding form in recent weeks with a young squad has convinced coach Trent Robinson and chairman Nick Politis that they can afford to do without the hooker/lock.

The club would use the money they are saving from Smith’s $800,000 a year contract to top up a number of rising stars such as Naufahu Whyte and Blake Steep who have performed so impressively in recent times.

There is also talk that Daly Cherry-Evans is on his way to Bondi Junction to finish his NRL career on a two-year deal.

Smith has had a disappointing two and half years since joining the Roosters from Melbourne.

He signed a two-year deal with Souths in March and said recently in a podcast he would be prepared to go to Souths early if it meant his money would go towards the Roosters keeping their young squad intact.

Souths could certainly benefit from having him on deck for the final 12 weeks of the season.

They have been desperately lacking middle-field strength and leadership in the absence of skipper Cameron Murray.

In a forwards shake-up, coach Wayne Bennett has dropped front-rower Tevita Tatola and Sean Keppie from the starting side for the match against the Broncos this weekend.

Originally published as Brandon Smith set to join South Sydney effective immediately from Sydney Roosters