Brandon Smith signing analysis: How Wayne Bennett will avoid hooker logjam with incumbent Peter Mamouzelos
South Sydney fans have been left wondering where star signing Brandon Smith will play and whether he will push out a rising young Rabbitoh. Coach Wayne Bennett reveals his plans.
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South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett insists that Brandon Smith’s impending arrival at the Rabbitohs shouldn’t be viewed as a threat to young hooker Peter Mamouzelos.
Mamouzelos has been a constant presence in the Rabbitohs side this season, bedding down the No.9 jersey following the departure of Damien Cook at the end of last season.
Smith’s arrival was seen in some quarters as a threat to Mamouzelos but seven-time premiership winner Bennett insisted that was not the case, making it clear that the Rabbitohs’ decision to sign the New Zealand international was largely done with his versatility in mind.
“When I thought I had a chance to get him, I went hard for him,” Bennett said.
“The part I want to make clear is that he’s not there to take Peter’s job, the hooker at the moment.
“I brought him there as a forward because he can play all the positions in the forward pack.
“I just want what he brings. We’ll work it out from there. At the moment, Peter’s doing a great job and I haven’t brought him here to take Peter’s job.
“You just can’t get through with six forwards in the team anymore. You’ve got a backup team behind the team. That’s the way the game is at the moment.
“He can play 13, he can play on the edge and I have no doubt he can play hooker, which makes him pretty special. He can do all those jobs.”
Bennett’s successful pursuit of Smith comes only a few years after he attempted to lure him to the Dolphins. Smith recently admitted he agreed to join Bennett, before backflipping to sign with the Roosters.
“I am a pretty persistent guy,” Bennett said.
“I don’t give up easy. I just love his energy, mate. That guy just turns up and gives everything he’s got. He can’t coach that sort of stuff.”
As for whether the Rabbitohs can get their hands on Smith before the end of the season, Bennett said any chance of that happening would rest with the Roosters.
“We negotiated with him for next year and the two-year contract, right?” Bennett said.
“So that’s done. We signed off on that. After that, we’ve got no control over anything with regards to whether the Roosters want to let him go or keep him.
“So there’s been no discussion in regards to that – whether the Roosters want to let him go or the Roosters want to keep him.
“It’s up to the club and himself what happens there. If he becomes available, we’ll look at that. If he’s not available, we’ll just get on with life.
“He’s living there in the suburbs now. So I thought it was a pretty easy decision. From that point of view, he doesn’t have to get up and move again and all that, which is an issue.
“We’re just down the road and I’ve been chasing him for a while.”
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Originally published as Brandon Smith signing analysis: How Wayne Bennett will avoid hooker logjam with incumbent Peter Mamouzelos
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