- Souths star is due to face a Queensland court on September 18
Roosters stars have reportedly turned on their former teammate Brandon Smith after the club was dragged into the scandal surrounding his charges for alleged drug dealing and disclosing inside knowledge for betting.
Smith was cleared by the NRL to play the final round for South Sydney, as the embattled hooker prepares to plead not guilty to the charges laid by Queensland police.
Smith’s lawyer Paul McGirr confirmed that another NRL star’s name is referred to within the summons, and it is understood that the player is star Roosters lock Victor Radley.
Radley and other Roosters players were on a golf trip on the Sunshine Coast at the time of Smith’s alleged drugs offence.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Radley or any of the players who travelled north over the Roosters’ round-14 bye weekend.
Now the manager of two Roosters stars has revealed the players’ reaction to the scandal.
Brandon Smith is pictured with partner Isabella Williams during his time with the Roosters. Now his former teammates have reportedly turned on him over his alleged drugs charges
The Roosters were dragged into the scandal when reports surfaced that their star Victor Radley (pictured) is referred to in Smith’s court summons
‘It’s no secret that Brandon had issues off the field and the boys really took him under their wing,’ the manager told Wide World of Sports.
‘He is a very likeable larrikin who they found to be a lot of fun.
‘But all that has changed in the wake of all this – the players feel they have had their reputations damaged and are not happy.’
The reverberations of Smith’s drug-supply charge were still being felt around the NRL on Tuesday as the Tricolours released a strongly worded statement on the drama.
Smith has been summoned to face Southport Magistrates Court next month, on a charge of supplying dangerous drugs.
He has also been accused by Queensland Police of disclosing inside knowledge for betting, and faces another charge over that.
South Sydney have stood by the 29-year-old, with coach Wayne Bennett adamant he will pick him to face the Roosters next Friday night after the Rabbitohs’ bye.
McGirr has confirmed that Smith will fight the charges.
Smith is pictured during his first game for Souths against Manly in July
Smith (pictured) will not be stood down by Souths or the NRL and is expected to play for the Rabbitohs against his old Roosters teammates on September 5
And the NRL also confirmed on Tuesday they would have no issue with Smith playing, ruling out the prospect of enforcing an immediate ban.
‘The NRL is not satisfied that the player has been charged with an offence that triggers the automatic application of the no-fault stand-down condition,’ an NRL spokesperson said in a statement.
‘The NRL also does not intend to impose a stand down condition under its discretionary powers.
‘As this matter is currently before the Queensland courts, the NRL will offer no further comment.’
It’s believed the NRL only learnt of the charges against Smith as news broke of the matter on Monday afternoon.
Smith had been questioned by Queensland Police on arrival on the Gold Coast earlier this month before a game, but was released without charge.
The Roosters released a statement on Tuesday that confirmed they had been in contact with the NRL over the matter, and vowed to defend the club’s name following media reports on the issue.
‘The Sydney Roosters have procedures in place to deal with the sorts of allegations made in today’s written media and on TV. We will address the matter once the facts have been established via the judicial system,’ the statement read.
‘When in possession of the facts, the Sydney Roosters will take any necessary action, including any action available to us to defend our proud name. It is what our fans, staff, players and sponsors demand of us.’
The Tricolours have previously trumpeted one of the toughest approaches to drugs in sport, with chairman Nick Politis claiming a zero-tolerance approach earlier this year.
‘My view is if somebody’s caught doing cocaine or leaning over snorting something, we’re going to get rid of them,’ Politis told News Corp in January.
‘Our stance is zero tolerance. We are very strong on it. Trent (Robinson) is very strong on it.’
Smith’s charge regarding disclosing inside information for betting is believed to relate to his comeback from an ACL rupture last month against Manly.
The dummy-half had been named on an extended bench in the Rabbitohs’ No.22 jersey, before starting at hooker as one of several changes in the team list.
