- Souths star is due to face court on September 18
The NRL will allow Brandon Smith to play in the final round for South Sydney as the embattled Rabbitohs hooker plans to fight charges laid by Queensland police.
The reverberations of Smith’s drug-supply charge were still being felt around the NRL on Tuesday, with his former club the Sydney Roosters releasing a strongly worded statement after being caught up in 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.
And the NRL also confirmed on Tuesday they would have no issue with Smith running out, confirming he would not face an immediate ban.
The NRL has given the green light to Souths star Brandon Smith (pictured) playing for the Bunnies against the Roosters in the last round of the regular season
Smith (pictured centre) is facing charges of alleged drug supply and using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting
‘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.
‘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.
Smith had been questioned by Queensland Police on arrival on the Gold Coast earlier this month before a game, but was released without charge.
Queensland Police are expected to allege Smith attempted to supply drugs to a Roosters player while they were away in early June, shortly after the hooker left the club.
Star lock Victor Radley’s name is believed to appear on the summons, with him and other Roosters players on a golf trip on the Sunshine Coast at the time.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Radley or any of the players who travelled north over the Roosters’ round-14 bye weekend.
Souths coach Wayne Bennett backed Smith on Tuesday, saying he will not stand the hooker down for the club’s final match of the year
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.
‘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.
On Tuesday, Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett declared his strong support for Smith.
‘We could stand him down if we wanted to,’ Bennett said.
‘He has been charged and he has to appear before the courts … But I’m not standing him down … that’s not going to happen.’
