The Wests Tigers have flatly rejected an audacious offer from the Melbourne Storm to swap out-of-favour hooker Brandon Smith for gun forward Stefano Utoikamanu next season.
In a further sign of just how much Smith has
angered the Storm over the manner in which he signed with the Roosters from 2023, it can be revealed recruitment manager Paul Bunn reached out to the Tigers this week, shopping Smith on a one-year deal.
Brandon Smith has made his club Melbourne Storm furious with comments he made on a podcast.
New Tigers director of football Tim Sheens discussed the matter with Storm coach Craig Bellamy, with whom he has a long-time relationship from their days as coach and player in Canberra.
Sheens considered the idea of signing Smith because the Tigers have struggled to find an established hooker since Robbie Farah retired, but negotiations abruptly ended when the club was told Melbourne wanted Utoikamanu in return.
Also fresh in the Tigers’ minds is the fact Smith wasn’t interested in speaking to them about a long-term deal a few weeks ago because he wanted to join a top-four team.
The Tigers announced on Friday afternoon they had signed premiership-winning Penrith hooker Api Koroisau on a two-year deal, from 2023.
There is growing speculation the Storm have been shopping Smith to other clubs, despite putting out a media release at the start of the week stating he would be there in 2022.
Brandon Smith in happier times for the Melbourne Storm.CREDIT:GETTY
Melbourne counter this by claiming rival clubs have sniffed “panic” when it’s not there, offering to take Smith off their hands if they want to get rid of him.
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Neither the Storm nor Tigers would offer a public comment on the matter.
The Tigers’ offer highlights the internal struggle at the Storm about what to do with their once-loved hooker. He has infuriated club bosses — but can they afford to let him go when they are lacking middle forwards?
Tui Kamikamica has been
stood down indefinitely after he was charged by Queensland Police over an alleged incident involving a woman in Brisbane, and Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s
future remains unclear because he has not been vaccinated from COVID-19.
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Wide World of Sports legend Ken Sutcliffe has pinpointed a "bad look" that could come about over the remainder of Brandon Smith's time at the Storm.
With Harry Grant confirmed as the club’s long-term hooker, Smith will likely establish himself as their bankable No.13 should he stay.
There’s a great shame about the poisonous fallout between Smith and the Storm, for whom he’s become a cult hero because of his raw honesty, pranking of teammates (including, on occasion, Bellamy) but mostly the way he plays, selflessly running and tackling without fear of the physical consequences.
Smith is due to front pre-season training on Tuesday, where he can expect a frosty reception from coaches and officials, but the suggestion about the players being angered by his comments on a clothing company podcast, especially about the club having a “piss-up culture”, don’t line up with what the
Herald and
the Age have been told.
Rather, Smith’s teammates accept him for being honest, the loosest of cannons who shoots from the hip.
“That’s just Brandon,” more than one player reported.
To suggest Smith is a dumbo who has carelessly trashed his club on the way out the door is too simplistic.
There’s a conspiracy theory he wanted to anger the Storm so much that it forced a release from the final year of his contract so he could join the Roosters immediately.
What is more likely is Smith’s comments on the podcast were aimed at certain powerbrokers at the Storm who he believes didn’t treat him with respect when contract negotiations commenced.
Indeed, Smith’s family have angered some Storm officials with remarks made on social media, adding to the tension between club and player.
For their part, Melbourne argue they have stuck by Smith through thick and thin, most recently “the mystery white powder” scandal that led to both him and Cameron Munster being fined and banned for one match.
Once considered two peas in a party pod, Smith and Munster appear to be worlds apart, something not lost on the Storm.
While Munster has
come out of rehab bright-eyed and training with an energy few have seen from him before, Smith has been on a whirlwind tour of the eastern seaboard, talking to clubs and talking up his drinking prowess.
Nobody wants to see the character drained out of Smith, although rugby league and its media have a way of killing personalities.
But he should be mindful, at the very least, about being used up by people who don’t have his best interests at heart.
Meanwhile, Roosters players have reached out to him, telling him to tone down his public commentary and focus on footy — wherever that might be when the season starts.
www.weststigers.com.au
