South Sydney Rabbitohs have confirmed their interest in signing Sydney Roosters hooker Brandon Smith, with supercoach Wayne Bennett admitting the club is keen to secure the Kiwi international.
“We’re interested,” Bennett told Fox Sports following Souths' gritty opening-round win over the Dolphins on Friday night.
The Rabbitohs are exploring the possibility of bringing Smith across town, though the timing of any move remains unclear.
The 27-year-old is in the final year of his contract with the Roosters but has been told he will not be retained beyond this season, with North Queensland Cowboys' Reece Robson set to take over the No.9 jersey in 2026.
Souths weighing up cap space and Smith’s injury recovery
Smith is currently sidelined as he recovers from an ACL injury and is not expected to return until the middle of the 2025 campaign. While he has resumed running, he remains months away from full fitness.
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The Roosters were initially reluctant to release Smith, particularly to their fierce rivals, but their stance may be softening after securing Robson for next season. Meanwhile, the Rabbitohs have salary cap constraints, with only around $250,000 in available space for 2025, which could complicate negotiations.
The departure of veteran hooker Damien Cook has left Peter Mamouzelos in line to take over the No.9 role at South Sydney. However, after a full pre-season assessing his squad, Bennett may not see the 23-year-old as the long-term solution.
Smith arrived at the Roosters in 2023 as a marquee signing but has struggled to cement his place, with injuries and form issues disrupting his time at the club.
If a deal can be struck, Bennett’s track record of reviving careers suggests he could be the coach to help Smith rediscover the form that once made him one of the most dynamic dummy-halves in the game.