Roosters look likely to win race for B Smith..

[ChookMaster]

Daily tele just put out a article saying we look likely to beat dolphins after Robbo impressed him… Still will let the storm give him one last crack tho..

[ChookMaster]

The Sydney Roosters are on the verge of landing their biggest signing since Cooper Cronk and Sonny Bill Williams with the tricolours emerging as the front-runners in the five-club race to land Melbourne ace Brandon Smith.

The Roosters wooed Smith this week with News Corp learning he was left impressed after meeting with coach Trent Robinson.

Smith is the hottest prospect of the NRL players off-contract at the end of 2022. The Storm want to keep the 25-year-old at the club while the Dolphins, Cowboys and Titans have also made bids to land the Kiwi international.

Smith has given the Storm assurances they would receive the last right of reply in keeping him at the club. But that has grown increasingly unlikely after his time spent with the Roosters last week.

Unless the Storm can convince him otherwise, Smith is expected to link up with the Roosters. The Dolphins have offered the richest deal worth about $800,000 for three years.

Smith spent this week mingling with the Roosters including a day on the golf course with New Zealand teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and a pair of retired Roosters — Jake Friend and Mitch Aubusson — on Wednesday.

If Smith does sign with the Roosters, his arrival in 2023 could match that of Cronk and Williams.

Cronk’s two-year stint in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in 2018-19 resulted in successive premierships and also ignited the feud between the Melbourne and the Roosters.

Smith toured the Dolphins earlier this month before detouring to Sydney ahead of his drive back to Melbourne.

It is understood the Roosters are unlikely to match the dollars on offer in Queensland, but will sell Smith on the idea of competing for premierships.

Smith has spent his off-season touring three Queensland clubs – having also spent time at the Cowboys and the Gold Coast.

His manager, Stan Martin, sent an email to all 16 clubs at 5.59am on November 1 asking clubs to show their interest in Smith.

Smith has made it known he wants to start at hooker. Long-term rake Friend retired because of concussion earlier this year while premiership winning hooker Sam Verrills still has three years left on his deal.

The Storm’s roster has been savaged in recent years. They lost Josh Addo-Carr, Nicho Hynes and Dale Finucane ahead of 2022 while backrower Felise Kaufusi will play out next season at the Storm before joining the Dolphins on a three-year deal.

The Roosters will lock down Joey Manu on a long-term contract. Their other off-contracted players include Angus Crichton, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Lachlan Lam. Boom youngster Joseph Suaalii has a player option for seasons 2023 and 2024.

[Thirteen]

The champagne is on ice.

[stringaz]

Welcome Brandon I guess. Hard to see us losing Bmoz jmoz cords friend Liu and potentially Siua without replacing them with a significant signing in Smith.

Perhaps we can still keep verills as Robbo knows you need a full squad to snatch the crown not just 17.

Other clubs would be mad not to chase Sam down though.

P.S. Still keen on Haas I hope.

[Rooster_6]

News Ltd seem to have a new front runner every 24hrs.

Gets the clicks doesn't it?

[top_joe]

Would be great to get him, but it lowers Sonny and Coops when the media likens him to them.

Haas on the other hand has a decade of brilliance ahead of him.

[Roosterfarian]

Opportunistic journalism at its finest.

Absolutely nothing in the article that’s a new bit of fact, changed circumstance or quote from a reliable source.

Who is this clown?

[SouthWestChook]

It looks like nothing more than speculation really. Doesn't seem to have any sources, just says how we'll use the chances of winning more premierships over the Dolphins' money.

[Bondicigar]

With the speed of the ruck in today's game.
B Smith is the smartest buy for the chooks.
Him along with Rads are the modern day prototype forward.

[ism22]

> Their other off-contracted players include Angus Crichton, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Lachlan Lam. Boom youngster Joseph Suaalii has a player option for seasons 2023 and 2024.

BOOM!!!! Can everybody please refer to me as a boom 'pen poster?

[Kelvin Johnson]

The article gives us no new information and probably doesn't help the Roosters.
Did Cheese say he wants premierships ahead of money? All he said was he wants to be a full-time hooker.
He can definitely do that at the Dolphins. Can he do that at Melbourne or Roosters?

We need Buzz to confirm before we can start celebrating.

[Mickie Lane]

I believe the story & I believe the Chooks will get him.
Robbo knows that if the Roosters want to win another comp soon they need Smith.

Teddy
Keary
Walker
Smith

Will win you a comp.

[ChookMaster]

B smith has just done a poddy with YTKR.. have a close listen to what he’s saying about our club and meetings with him so far.. Very good listen. The way he speaks about our club and our jersey makes me wonder. Have a listen lads

https://youtu.be/SCW6JkY608Q

[roostersrule2]

I’ve heard from a good source that the dolphins are confident.

[dice]

I am not convinced. Cheese must show genuine interest in all clubs to keep them in the race and boost his asking price. We have no clue whether his motivations are solely money, premierships, family, or becoming a genuine hooker. Although if you believe what Cheese says then the latter is the sole motivation.

On that last point, we didn't pursuit Reed Mahoney who is a genuine hooker, so I have more doubts that Cheese would want to join us to share the hooker/lock roles. But perhaps Robbo believes Cheese can be coached into becoming a genuine hooker.