Brandon Smith Drops Bombshell: Roosters Hooker Hints at Shock Move to Arch-Rivals Souths

Brandon Smith has put the Sydney Roosters in an awkward position with his recent comments about a rival club, potentially fast-tracking his exit from Bondi Junction. The 28-year-old hooker, who is currently sidelined with a serious knee injury, is in the final year of his three-season, $2.5 million contract with the Roosters. With North Queensland Cowboys hooker Reece Robson set to join the Roosters in 2026, speculation suggests Smith will not be offered a new deal.

Smith’s future became an even hotter topic following his appearance on The Bye Round podcast with James Graham, where he openly expressed admiration for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. His remarks have sparked interest from Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett, who previously attempted to recruit Smith to the Dolphins in 2023 before he ultimately chose the Roosters. Despite being snubbed then, Bennett has not lost interest.

“Well, I wanted him at the Dolphins, and nothing’s changed,” Bennett told AAP. “I’d love to see him at South Sydney, so hopefully we can get to the negotiating table and get a deal.”

When informed of Bennett’s renewed interest, Smith responded with excitement. “Yes, I did see the interest from Wayne Bennett. Hopefully, it’s real interest,” he said with a laugh. “I’m stoked that he’s interested in me, but to be fair, we had a pretty rough relationship. I did give him my word I was signing at Redcliffe, and we all know how that ended up. So, you never know what might happen.”

His comments fueled rumors that a move to South Sydney could happen soon. When asked if there was a timeline for a possible switch, Smith replied, “Not really. I don’t know what the go is, yeah.”

Adding further intrigue, Smith revealed that South Sydney was actually his favorite team growing up. “My playing strip as a junior was red and green,” he admitted.

The rivalry between the Roosters and Rabbitohs is one of the fiercest in the NRL, making Smith’s remarks all the more controversial. His tenure at the Roosters has been marred by injuries and off-field controversies, and his public admiration for their biggest rival could lead to an early exit.

Reflecting on his past dealings with Bennett, Smith acknowledged breaking his word to the coach in 2023 but hoped the situation had been forgiven. “When I broke my promise with him, I was speaking to Matty Johns, and he was like, ‘Mate, how many times has he done that to a club?’” Smith recalled. “I was like, yeah, you’re right, but I felt pretty bad. Hopefully, he’s forgiven me.”

As speculation swirls, Smith’s future remains uncertain, but his latest comments suggest he wouldn’t mind swapping Bondi blue for Rabbitohs red and green.