Souths star Brandon Smith and Roosters enforcer Victor Radley have allegedly sent text messages to each other and a drug dealer in exchanges police will use in court, it has been revealed.
Smith will face Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday, where he will plead not guilty to charges of supplying supplying dangerous drugs and using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting.
Radley’s name is referred to in Smith’s summons, and police will allege Smith played a role in supplying him with drugs while he was on a golf trip to the Sunshine Coast in June.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Radley or any of the Roosters teammates who were in Queensland with him.
Police seized Smith’s phone at Gold Coast Airport on August 9 as part of Operation XRAY BON, which was established to target cocaine supply.
According to the police fact sheet for the case against Smith – who was in Sydney at the time of the alleged offences – the Bunnies forward is accused of helping Radley contact a dealer to source an illegal drug.
Brandon Smith (left) and Victor Radley are pictured when they were Roosters teammates in April this year
Alleged text messages from the pair have been revealed in a police fact sheet ahead of Smith’s court appearance on drugs and betting charges on Thursday
Pictured: One of the alleged text exchanges between Radley (messages in grey) and Smith (messages in blue). An ‘8 ball’ is slang for an eighth of an ounce of powered drugs
The police statement of facts alleges the following May 30 text exchanges between Radley and Smith, who had his former teammate saved in his phone as ‘Victor The Molester’.
Radley: ‘G tee up your cousin in Sunny Coast for me. Little short ball. Short 8 ball if you will.’
‘8 ball’ is a slang term for an eighth of an ounce of powdered drugs, equivalent to just over 3.5 grams.
Smith: ‘Yeah sweet bro. I’ll give you the contact when I get it.’
Police will allege Smith supplied Radley with the dealer’s contact details and the pair exchanged the following messages on June 6.
Smith: ‘Just call him that’s XXX from Goldie number. He’s got people in sunny coast he said to call him and he will give you number.’
Radley: ‘Copy cheers lad.’
The following alleged texts between Smith and Radley were sent on June 7, by which time police will allege Smith had established contact between the Roosters star the dealer.
Smith (pictured with partner Isabella Williams) will plead not guilty to all charges
Now with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Smith had his phone seized by police at Gold Coast Airport on August 9
Smith to dealer: ‘Hey brother. Yeah I’ll victor trying to call ya hahaa.’
Dealer to Smith: ‘Yeah I’m calling my mate now.’
Shortly after those messages, police will tell the court Radley and Smith were texting again.
Radley: ‘Sickc**t cheers brah.’
Smith: ‘Sorted?’
Radley: ‘Yeah cheers.’
Police will tell the court that the dealer the pair were allegedly corresponding with had a problem delivering the drug after one of his workers failed to make the drop-off.
According to the statement of facts, police have obtained alleged text messages between two men who are thought to be discussing a drug delivery.
One, listed as Dealer B, did not meet Radley. The other, Dealer A – who was charged with cocaine possession on July 5 – allegedly had the following text conversation with the Roosters player to arrange the drop-off.
Radley: ’10 mins off.’
Dealer A allegedly then sent Radley his GPS position.
Radley: ‘Happy days. Am I gonna jump in (the car) with you?’
Dealer A: ‘Yep.’
Radley: ‘Mad cheers bro.’
Dealer A: ‘Hilux jacked Gray.’
Radley: ‘Hektic cheers. 1 min off lad. Just coming through the lights.’
At 4.43pm, the dealer Smith allegedly put Radley in contact with allegedly got into the following conversation with Radley.
Dealer: ‘F**k bro sorry about all that massive mission we are all coming down for the round 27 (NRL match) roosters vs rabbits.’
Radley: ‘All good bro you sorted us good man. Yep let me know if you need anything I’ll sort it for ya.’
Radley (pictured with partner Taylah Cratchley) has not been charged with any offence
Smith’s lawyer, Paul McGirr, told the Daily Mail that the leaking of the court document is ‘very concerning’.
‘The bottom line is that my client wasn’t anywhere near Queensland, didn’t organise an ounce, or drug or anything else. That was purely done by another party, not Mr Smith,’ McGirr said.
‘In respect to the second charge in relation to the team list (alleged betting offence), the team list was already public knowledge.
‘So at this stage it will be a plea of not guilty to both.
‘It is very concerning that the material is being leaked before having even gone into court.
‘It is concerning that court documents appear to be leaked even before the actual matter has gone before a court.
‘The amount of detail in those particular matters, it would have to come from the fact sheet.
‘But I am not confirming or denying anything in any fact sheet because a fact sheet is only a narrative. A fact sheet is not actual evidence.’
The Daily Mail has contacted the Roosters and the NRL for comment.
