Melbourne Storm boss Frank Ponissi has broken the club’s silence following contracted player Brandon Smith’s recent comments on a podcast.
Smith infuriated Melbourne when he revealed he wanted to join the Sydney Roosters from 2023. He also upset officials by alleging the the club has a heavy drinking problem.
The Storm have since confirmed that Smith will depart the club at the conclusion of his current contract.
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In response, Ponissi said the Storm’s long-standing dominance could not have been achieved without meticulous standards of health and physical performance.
“The whole podcast I found disappointing but the drinking culture (comment) I found puzzling,” he said on Sportsday.
“In the last seven years we’ve made seven consecutive prelims, four minor premierships, four Grand Finals, two premierships and we won 19 games on the bounce this year.
“You don’t have those performances over a long period of time if you have a drinking culture. If you did, they’d suddenly be a lot of sporting teams in Australia that suddenly would adopt a drinking culture so I found those comments puzzling.
“It’s impossible and anyone that has any time of knowledge of physical performance and alcohol, they just don’t go together.”
Ponissi also confirmed that Melbourne hasn’t discussed a potential swap deal with rival clubs in an attempt to oust Smith ahead of the 2022 season.
“I can guarantee we didn’t approach any club (about swapping Brandon Smith),” he said.
“In this position people think you’re vulnerable so you will get potentially other clubs contacting you.
“We just need a take a deep breath, it’s been a very disappointing week. We have to sit down with the players in person rather than over the phone or text.
“He’s a contracted player and he’ll be given an opportunity to show he really wants to be here.”
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