Legendary coach Wayne Bennett could be the man tasked with turning the career of Brandon Smith around, with the Roosters hooker linked to a move to the Rabbitohs next season.
Smith poured cold water on a move to Souths on The Bye Round Podcast this week, but Fox League’s James Hooper reports that it has been discussed and there is “still a possibility of it happening”.
The Rabbitohs will be chasing a dummy-half from next season after it was revealed that Souths hooker Damien Cook will be linking up with the Dragons on a two-year deal from 2025.
Smith is reportedly on the outer at the Roosters after he was dropped for disciplinary reasons, but has been named to take on the Bulldogs this Saturday.
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The likely hang up with Smith switching to the Rabbitohs from next season is the fact the Roosters will have to pay the forward’s next club to take him on.
“You never say never in rugby league as crazy as it sounds as these two clubs have hated each other since 1908, South Sydney and the Roosters and it’s hard to see them doing business at any level,” Hooper said on NRL360.
“In this instance though, I get the impression that Brandon has worn out his welcome at the Chooks.”
“Would (Roosters chairman) Nick Politis let go of Brandon Smith to go to the enemy?” NRL360 host Braith Anasta asked Hooper.
“Well that’s going to be the million dollar question because it’s going to be a matter of how much the Roosters would be prepared to throw in,” Hooper replied.
“I said on this show last week that the Roosters may possibly be willing to throw in $400,000 to walk away from his contract. Would they be willing to out that much in if he’s going to go to Souths?”
Incoming Souths coach Wayne Bennett tried to sign Smith to the Dolphins roster when the hooker was off contract a couple of seasons back, but Smith ultimately signed with the Roosters.
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With Smith at a crucial juncture in his career, Bennett could be the coach who can get the best out of the talented forward. The master coach certainly has a proven track record.
“Brandon Smith falls into that Wayne Bennett category … that he’s a little bit off the rails, it’s another player that everyone would like to think that Wayne could get the best out of,” Anasta said.
“He’ll have a few of them at the club at the Bunnies (next season) You have same players who are a little bit temperamental but if he can control them and if he was to (sign Smith) with the roster they have, they are definitely a premiership team.”
NRL great Gorden Tallis agrees, saying that Bennett “know how to deal with those bigger personalities”.
The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis added: “He wanted him at the Dolphins don’t forget and if it wasn’t for dinner at (Roosters coach) Trent Robinson’s house, he was committed.
“The Dolphins thought they had him and Wayne does have that knowledge of Brandon.
“If they throw in Brandon Smith with Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell and they are playing on the front foot, they are a dangerous side.”