Brandon Smith opened up about his straightforward conversation with South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett before signing a two-year contract with the Rabbitohs. The 28-year-old forward will join the Bunnies for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, officially marking the end of his time with the Sydney Roosters.
Speaking on the Bye Round podcast, Smith addressed speculation about his move, insisting it wasn't driven by a desire to provoke the Roosters. Instead, he credited Bennett's interest and the convenience of staying in Sydney as factors that led to his decision.
"I feel like people assume that I went to the Bunnies to piss off the Roosters, but that's not really the case," Smith said. "It seemed very convenient and Wayne Bennett actually wanted me, he's got a lot of interest in me. The fact that it's in Sydney, me and my partner don't have to move … the stars just aligned."
‘A very blunt conversation’
Smith described his conversation with Bennett as brief and to the point, reflecting the veteran coach’s no-nonsense approach.
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"We only had one conversation, and it wasn't too long either. He [Bennett] got straight to the point that he wanted me," Smith said. "I didn't deal with him a whole lot. We thought that if I did a lot of the discussions, it would be more of a public thing."
Despite his enthusiasm for the move, questions remain over Smith’s role at South Sydney. The Rabbitohs parted ways with long-time dummy-half Damien Cook last year, and Peter Mamouzelos has since worn the No.9 jersey. However, Bennett appears open to using Smith across multiple positions.
“He will play in the forwards, that’s where he will play,” Bennett said. “He can play hooker. He can play 13. He can play on an edge. I have got no doubt about that.”
For now, Smith's immediate focus remains on his current club, the Roosters, as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury. While uncertain if he'll see out his contract at the Chooks, Smith is determined to make the most of the present.
"If the Roosters feel like they have an opportunity to let me go and bring a player with more value, that's a discussion they'd have to have with me," he admitted. "For now, if they want me to stay, I will stay. At the moment, I'm happy where I'm at."