Rugby league legend Mark Geyer labelled Brandon Smith‘s future at the Melbourne Storm as “untenable”.
That comment came this morning, hours before the Storm dropped a bombshell in accusing Smith of disrespecting the club.
And if his position wasn’t tenable before that, it’s far less so now.
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Smith is contracted to Melbourne for season 2022 and the club says he will wear the purple jersey until that deal expires at the end of October.
But the strong wording from Storm boss Justin Rodski suggests Smith will be the least popular guy in the gym, from the time he returns to AAMI Park to the day he leaves.
“The statements have deeply offended current and former players, coaches, staff and board members and the club strongly rejects the comments made about the Storm culture,” Rodski said, in reference to Smith claiming there’s a heavy drinking culture at the Storm.
When a relationship turns this sour it’s generally best to sever ties as soon as possible.
Smith would need to request a release from his contract, and the Storm grant it, for him to be able to walk away prematurely. But after the events of the last 24 hours that now seems highly probable.
The question then would be where the 25-year-old utility forward spends his 2022 season.
Here are the most likely options.
JOIN THE CHOOKS EARLY
Smith has all but confirmed he will join the Roosters, but currently that union could only begin at the end of next year. NRL clubs often sign players months in advance of them actually joining the team, allowing them that buffer time to get their salary cap in order.
Clubs don’t make player salaries public, so it’s hard to know how much spare cash the Chooks have under the cap for season 2022. If they can find enough room to accommodate Smith, there’s every chance he will be moving to Bondi sooner rather than later.
The likes of James Tedesco, Luke Keary, Angus Crichton, and Joey Manu are all earning significant money for the Tricolours. Breakout stars Sam Walker and Sitili Tupouniua have no doubt had their salaries upgraded for 2022.
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But the Roosters this year lost Boyd Cordner, Jake Friend, Brett Morris, and Josh Morris to retirement. They haven’t added any big-name recruits and they still have spots available on their 30-man roster.
Melbourne may be prepared to tip in some of Smith’s salary next season to get him off the books.
ACCEPT A CHANGED ROLE IN MELBOURNE
The most likely option is Smith does actually stay in Melbourne and fulfil his contract.
But Storm coach Craig Bellamy won’t be doing the Kiwi international any favours, and is more likely to snub Smith for the starting hooker position in favour of Harry Grant.
Smith pipped Grant to the role this year – after the retirement of legendary rake Cameron Smith – and he was named the NRL’s hooker of the year. Grant, though, is considered the best young No.9 in rugby league and will certainly be promoted to the job next season.
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Smith’s biggest asset is, however, his versatility. Even if he’s dumped from hooker, he can easily play a role as a middle forward for Melbourne. That could become even more important with Nelson Asofa-Solomona baulking at getting a COVID-19 jab, and fellow big man Tui Kamikamica facing assault charges.
The most drastic scenario facing Smith is being ostracised by the Storm completely and spending the season playing in the Queensland Cup for an NRL feeder club.
FIND A ONE-YEAR DEAL ELSEWHERE
If the Roosters do sign Smith for 2023 but they can’t afford to bring him to Bondi early, another NRL club can pounce and convince him to spend a year in their colours in the interim.
He met with the Titans and Dolphins while holidaying in southern Queensland, before being wooed by the Chooks in Sydney.
The Dolphins don’t enter the competition until 2023 but the Titans would no doubt relish the opportunity to add Smith to the team, even if it was only for one season. They let Mitch Rein go at the end of this year and don’t have a first-class hooker contracted as of yet.
Smith, on the podcast that has found him in so much trouble, also revealed the Eels, Tigers, and Panthers approached him after he came onto the market on November 1.
Interestingly, the Eels seem destined to lose classy hooker Reed Mahoney to the Bulldogs in 2023, while the Panthers look set to lose Api Koroisau. If Smith was to join one of those teams for the 2022 campaign, no doubt the incumbent rake would look to exit as soon as possible.
The Tigers previously had Smith’s Storm teammate Grant on their books for one year, when the two clubs agreed to a swap deal in 2020. They would jump at the chance to have someone of Smith’s quality in the team for a few months.
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