Brandon Smith's days as a Sydney Roosters player are numbered.

That is the clear knock-on effect of the club announcing the signing of Reece Robson on a mega four-year deal this week.

His departure from the North Queensland Cowboys came as something of a surprise, but the lure of returning to Sydney to play for one of the competition's glamour clubs - likely for more money than the Cowboys were offering - was simply too good to refuse.

And what it means is that 2025 will be Brandon Smith's last season at the tri-colours.

Off-season at the end of the campaign, and aiming to return from an ACL injury during the first half of it, the timing realistically couldn't be worse for Smith, who will go into a contract year unable to play any rugby league.

That, after two seasons at the Roosters, where he hasn't lived up to the level he was expected to after being signed from the Melbourne Storm.

But there are plenty of clubs who need a dummy half, and for his faults, Smith did show enough, particularly in the second half of 2024, to suggest he can, in fact, cut it as a dummy half in the NRL.

So, here are five clubs who will want to make a play for the off-contract Rooster.

3. Newcastle Knights

The Newcastle Knights could well be the ideal location for Smith if he wants to be a starting number nine in the NRL.

The issue here is that the Knights haven't been able to keep Jayden Brailey on the field, and have since reportedly tapped him on the shoulder to ask him if he'd find a new home.

Phoenix Crossland has done a strong job at dummy half too in recent times, while the Knights have also signed Matt Arthur from the Parramatta Eels, who will be a star of the future, but for the time being, it feels as if there is a gap in the system.

That's where Smith could slot in. It might be a short-term deal, but Smith wouldn't be that far out of Sydney, and could try to revitalise his career alongside Kalyn Ponga.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Canberra is too cold. Parra is too far west. The Gold Coast has an attractive climate and a decent cityscape. The club finished fifth on the table in 2024.

    If the Roosters are prepared to throw in half of what they will have to pay Brandon Smith just to keep him playing NSW Cup when he returns from injury, then this could be a match made in heaven.

Comments are closed.