Roosters’ Recruitment Gamble on Brandon Smith Could End in Regret
The Sydney Roosters may already be regretting their decision to sign Brandon Smith, with speculation mounting that the club could part ways with the star hooker before his contract expires at the end of 2025. Smith, currently sidelined due to a significant knee injury, is not expected to return to the field for several months, raising doubts about whether he will play for the Roosters again.
Injury and Uncertain Future
Smith suffered a serious knee injury late last season, and his recovery timeline means he won’t be back on the field until at least the middle of this year. With his contract set to end after the 2025 season and the Roosters already securing the services of elite dummy-half Reece Robson from 2026, Smith’s long-term future at the club appears increasingly uncertain.
Recent reports suggest that several Super League clubs have expressed interest in signing the Kiwi international. However, it remains unclear whether Smith himself is open to a move to the UK. At this stage, no NRL club has shown interest in acquiring him for the 2025 season. According to The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio, teams are hesitant to invest in a player who is still in the recovery phase.
“No club is going to jump into a player still in the recovery phase,” Riccio stated, reinforcing the idea that Smith’s value has diminished due to his injury concerns.
A Signing That Hasn’t Delivered
Smith joined the Roosters on a lucrative deal worth approximately $800,000 per season, but his tenure at the club has failed to meet expectations. His performances have not justified the hefty price tag, leading Riccio to suggest that the club would make a different decision if given the chance.
“This is the signing that the Roosters no doubt regret. They’ll probably say they don’t, but it’s pretty clear it hasn’t worked out with Brandon Smith,” Riccio said.
The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the Roosters would be eager to offload Smith if the opportunity presented itself.
“He won’t be a Rooster beyond this year,” Carayannis predicted.
“If someone came for Brandon Smith, the Roosters would say thank you, take him.”
However, due to his current injury status, finding a club willing to take on his contract appears highly unlikely.
“He’s on $800,000 a season. The problem is that he won’t play until the midpoint of the season at least,” Carayannis continued.
“If you’re a rival club, you’re not going to touch him this year. He’s not going to play and then he’s going to take time to find his feet again. That’s the issue for the Roosters—they’re going to have to wear that $800k on their cap.”
Positional Debate: Is Smith a Hooker or a Middle Forward?
One of the biggest talking points surrounding Smith has been his suitability for the hooker role. Although he has been used as a dummy-half throughout his career, many believe his best position is as a roaming middle forward.
NRL360 host Braith Anasta has long held concerns about Smith’s ability to play as a genuine No. 9, questioning the Roosters’ decision to invest so heavily in him for that role.
“When they signed Brandon, I thought it was a strange one as they were looking for a genuine No. 9,” Anasta said.
“I got criticised for it because I thought they paid too much money for a guy who isn’t an established dummy-half.”
Anasta also suggested that the Roosters’ recent recruitment strategy has raised some eyebrows, hinting that the club has made questionable decisions beyond Smith’s signing.
“You’ve got to call it how you see it. I think there are some question marks over a couple of moves from the Roosters’ recruitment.”
Despite his struggles at the Roosters, Anasta remains confident that Smith could thrive in a different role and potentially at a different club.
“I think he’s a great kid and I think he can do well elsewhere playing lock, in my opinion,” he added.
“I think he can be a great player for a lot of other clubs.”
What’s Next for Smith?
With no immediate suitors in the NRL and his recovery from injury still ongoing, Smith’s future remains uncertain. The Roosters may be forced to carry his contract through the rest of 2025, despite reportedly wishing to move on from the deal. Meanwhile, Super League interest could provide an alternative path for Smith, but whether he would be willing to relocate overseas is still unknown.
As things stand, the Roosters’ investment in Smith has not paid off, and unless a drastic change occurs, his time with the club could be nearing an underwhelming conclusion.
