‘Eight-ball ... you sorted us good’: Brandon Smith, Victor Radley text message exchanges revealed in police report
The police statement of facts in Brandon Smith’s alleged drug supply case has revealed a bizarre detail among bombshell text message exchanges with former teammate Victor Radley. READ THE TEXTS
Text messages involving Sydney Roosters forward Victor Radley, an accused drug dealer and a request for an “eight-ball” are part of explosive evidence police will use when South Sydney Rabbitohs star Brandon Smith faces court on drug supply charges on Thursday.
Smith has been issued with a summons to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on charges of unlawfully supplying a dangerous drug and using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting.
He will plead not guilty to both charges.
Radley has been named in the police summons where Queensland Police allege Smith helped put Radley in contact with a drug dealer to source cocaine while he was on a golf trip with six Roosters teammates to the Sunshine Coast in early June.
Radley has not been charged and there is no suggestion he obtained or took illegal drugs.
The allegations involving Radley come from the police statement of facts, which this masthead has seen.
The fact sheet states police were watching a main drug dealer who had been supplying cocaine through south-east Queensland in an operation called X-ray Bon.
On July 18, the dealer was arrested, charged and had his phone seized. Radley’s number was in his phone, according to police.
This masthead first reported that, on August 9, Smith flew to Gold Coast Airport with his Rabbitohs teammates to face the Titans. It was there he was questioned by police, who seized his phone, which allegedly had Radley’s number saved as “Victor the Molestor”.
On April 9, 2025, the fact sheet states there were conversations purportedly between Radley and Smith, where the pair discussed a trip to the Sunshine Coast. At that stage, Smith was still playing at the Roosters and was planning on joining teammates on the golf trip during a bye round.
According to the court documents, Radley texts Smith saying: “What program are we running?”
Smith replies with a photo or emoji of a vacuum cleaner sucking up a line of powder. Smith then asks Radley: “Can you send me a rough time and date of golf spots?”
Radley then provided Smith with a screen shot of Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort, Twin Waters Golf Club and the Palmer Coolum Resort with playing dates set for June 5, 6 and 7 this year.
On May 2, Smith tells Radley that he will now not be attending the golf trip.
On May 30, Radley sends Smith a text: “G, tee-up your cousin in sunny coast for me; little short ball. Short eight-ball if you will.”
Smith: “Yeah, sweet, bro. I will give you the contract (he meant contact) when I get it.”
Radley: “Yoza. Not until next week, no rush.”
On June 4, Radley contacts Smith via text, saying: “Let us know, lad.”
Police will allege that “ball” and “eight-ball” are common slang terms for one-eighth of an ounce of powdered drugs.
Smith: “When are you going?”
Radley: “Tomorrow morning.”
Smith: “When do you want it?”
On June 6, Radley: “Maybe Friday, G.”
According to the court documents, Smith then sends Radley the phone number of the Queensland drug dealer.
Smith: “Just call him, that’s xxxxx from Goldie number. He’s got people in sunny coast he said to call him and he will give you number.”
Radley then says: “Copy, cheers lad.”
On June 7, Radley and Smith engage in a one-minute phone call before Smith establishes the drug contact.
Smith to dealer: “Hey brother. Yeah I’ll victor trying to call ya hahaa”
Dealer to Smith: “Yeah I’m calling my mate now.”
Police allegedly have further evidence of a text message exchange between Smith and Radley’s phone.
Radley to Smith: “Sickc--- cheers brah.”
Smith: “Sorted?”
Radley: “Yep cheers”
According to the statement of facts, police then have correspondence from later that day between two men, who are believed to be discussing the delivery of drugs. The first man was charged with cocaine possession on July 5. The second, unidentified person, is understood to be the man originally tasked with delivering the susbtance.
Dealer A: “Brother, would you drive to Coolum for a B (ball) + 250? It’s for the Cheese (football emoji) no shot (sic, shit).”
Dealer B: “Cheese (football)? Hahaha I’m booked in haircut at 1, I can after if needed?”
Dealer A: “Sweet. 900 for 2. Would ya do that after the cut? They are NRL players, bro you’ll know I’m (sic, him) as soon as you see him.”
Dealer B: “What happened to ball plus 250 hahaha”
Dealer A: “They double ordered.”
At 1.19pm, a message is allegedly sent from Radley’s phone to the contact “xxxxx from Goldie”, asking “Good for 2(pm) lad?”
More than an hour after the drop was meant to take place, Radley’s phone is sent the contact details for Dealer A, after Dealer B failed to show up. Radley and Dealer A then begin a conversation.
Radley: “10 mins off.”
Dealer A then sends an image of a map with the GPS position of a vehicle on Nicklin Way.
Radley:” Happy Days. Am I gonna jump in with you?”
Dealer A: “Yep.”
Radley: “Mad cheers bro.”
Dealer A: “Hilux jacked Gray (sic, grey).”
Radley: “Hektic cheers. 1 min off lad. Just coming through the lights.”
Radley’s phone receives a text message from the dealer who organised the deal originally.
Dealer: “F... bro sorry about all that massive mission. We are all coming down for the round 27 Roosters vs Rabbits (game).”
Radley: “All good bro, you sorted us good, man. Let me know if you need anything and I will sort it for you.”
Police also obtained a further exchange between Smith and the dealer.
Dealer: “F...bro, was a mission today hey.”
Smith: “F... sorry bro!!!!!”
Dealer: “Nah wasn’t your fault had drivers sorted then he dogged them, then they ended up going closer to where my boys where (sic, were) so they went and picked rads up and sorted looked after him real good. F... I just feel shit cause I told him it was coming and then the c... never did, my mates went over and flogged the c... after.”
Smith: “Holey f...!!! Hahahah. Why did he dog?”
Dealer: “Dunno bro, said he was nearly there but wasn’t and didn’t even go. F... poor rads waited for ages and I was telling him he was 10 away.”
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo issued a statement on Tuesday evening.
“As it is a live court matter, we will not be making any public comment or take any action until the matter is concluded,” Abdo said.
“We are monitoring the process. Once the matter has been concluded, we will consider any potential breaches of NRL rules.”
The Sydney Roosters were contacted for comment on Tuesday.
Roosters chair Nick Politis is overseas and is due to return to Australia this week, while CEO Joe Kelly could not be reached.
Leading Sydney lawyer, Paul McGirr, who is representing Smith, told this masthead: “There is no allegation that my client, Smith, had anything to do with the amount or weight of drugs nor was he involved in any cash exchange whatsoever, or any dealings with the actual drug dealer or any contact with the alleged drug runner.
“I will not confirm or deny what is in a fact sheet, as it is only a narrative at this stage and is not actual evidence.
“And it isn’t my place to be discussing any parties who may or may not be mentioned in that document, football players or not. I want to make it clear that my client was nowhere near the state of Queensland when these particular allegations took place.”
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