Brandon Smith Interview

[BigCok007]

I repeat... he has been given permission to leave because they've selected Golden Boy Grant.

Nothing against Grant, but Drizz better hope he's worth all the hype. I'm yet to see him chain together more than 20 minutes of footy against a defeated team.

I think Grant is a gun hooker. I think his season was so disrupted this year and he struggled to find his rhythm. He has more finesse in his game than Smith.

But, we have finesse for days in the backline. The double punch of Rads and Smith through the middle with Teddy, Keary and Manu off the back has me salivating!

[Johnny73]

Now we have Ray Hadley’s opinion of Brandon Smith and his ‘language’ on the podcast as well as his transfer to the Roosters.

Going biblical, I say let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.

https://radioinfo.com.au/news/hadley...lympic-tirade/

[RoosterChick]

Now we have Ray Hadley’s opinion of Brandon Smith and his ‘language’ on the podcast as well as his transfer to the Roosters.

Going biblical, I say let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.

https://radioinfo.com.au/news/hadley...lympic-tirade/

I am with Ray on this one. Sorry but I reckon he’s 100% right on everything he said. Especially on Robbo and Uncle Nick saying. “What have we done?”
Ray call’s Smith a Muttonhead. Now that’s being kind in my opinion. The guy is a jerk. What he’s done to the Storm who have stood by him with the white powder incident to now do this is reprehensible. And like Hadley said, who’s to say he wouldn’t do it to us. Seriously, it doesn’t sit right. We are better than this. It’s not a win at any cost at the Roosters. We have a brand we have to protect. We have sponsors we have to keep happy. We have to look at the bigger picture here.

[ism22]

> NRL boss Andrew Abdo has told the newspaper: “I’ve asked the Integrity Unit to review the podcast and provide me with a report”.

> The report details the league’s focus is the language Smith used in the interview where he uttered the words “f***” and “c***” a series of times.

> There is speculation his behaviour is enough to warrant a breach of contract notice by the league for bringing the game into disrepute.

> He faces a potential fine of up to $10,000.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl...9bb8717e8d4104

---

I'm not a fan of that sorta language (don't use it myself) but IMO focussing on the words removes the context of the situation. It's not as though he was yelling 'aaaw you farking caaarnt I'll bash you' at some woman. He was using it in the Aussie way, like 'fark that guy's a mad carnt ay...' (i.e. I like that person). Like it or not, IMO this is how most footy players would speak privately (although I'd guess that Cronk and Smith wouldn't).

Side note... did anybody else understand his 'loves a beer... not the other stuff' comment about Cam Smith to mean that lotsa people use white powder at the Drizz, but Cam Smith is a complete cleanskin who wouldn't? I hope he realises how Easts are CONSTANTLY under a microscope to the point where saying 'squid game' to a friend can lead to a punishment (which is a complete joke but demonstrates where things are at). Hope there isn't too much of a culture shock about why we have to be so secret about everything.

[Bansai Pipeline]

I am with Ray on this one. Sorry but I reckon he’s 100% right on everything he said. Especially on Robbo and Uncle Nick saying. “What have we done?”
Ray call’s Smith a Muttonhead. Now that’s being kind in my opinion. The guy is a jerk. What he’s done to the Storm who have stood by him with the white powder incident to now do this is reprehensible. And like Hadley said, who’s to say he wouldn’t do it to us. Seriously, it doesn’t sit right. We are better than this. It’s not a win at any cost at the Roosters. We have a brand we have to protect. We have sponsors we have to keep happy. We have to look at the bigger picture here.

I think we can all breathe a huge sigh of relief that you're not running the club.

[dice]

I am with Ray on this one. Sorry but I reckon he’s 100% right on everything he said. Especially on Robbo and Uncle Nick saying. “What have we done?”
Ray call’s Smith a Muttonhead. Now that’s being kind in my opinion. The guy is a jerk. What he’s done to the Storm who have stood by him with the white powder incident to now do this is reprehensible. And like Hadley said, who’s to say he wouldn’t do it to us. Seriously, it doesn’t sit right. We are better than this. It’s not a win at any cost at the Roosters. We have a brand we have to protect. We have sponsors we have to keep happy. We have to look at the bigger picture here.

What came out of the white powder incident is NRL no longer drug testing players during the off-season. Clearly there are enough players doing recreational drugs for RLPA to have put that request to the NRL, and for the NRL to grant that request. I was a little shocked to find that out but it is what it is. It would be very naive to believe Roosters are cleanskins on this issue.

As for Cheese's other comments. He seems like an honest bloke who was genuinely blown away by the Roosters "family". Can't be a bad thing.

[Chook Norris]

Let's all remember that Robbo told Smith that he appreciated his ability to speak up, be that energiser/enforcer, and someone who could bring groups together. (As per the podcast)

Smith is that guy and Robbo sees the value in having that and wants to invest in that.

I'm sure Robbos done his homework and knows he can work with Smith.

Could the optics of the interview been handled better? Sure. But I'm also sure we can train him up into our culture

[RoosterFanNZ]

robbo made Blake Ferguson a decent bloke.

I think he can handle smith

[Paddo Colt 61]

[QUOTE=Johnny73; This is a Cooper Cronk redux.

While I agree that the side is sorely missing a top rank No 9 and that Smith is the ideal player to fit that role (he's everything Jake was plus a wrecking ball to boot) I don't quite rank him in the Cronk category. Can he visualise tackle 6 from the lie of the land in tackle 1? Does he have that superb kicking game? I know that he is an excellent defender but is he everywhere man, especially at the goal line?
Still I know what you're sayin' - another saviour from Melbourne via Queensland if things pan out.

[Noosa Rooster]

I’ve been mostly cold on the idea of Brandon Smith at the Roosters but I’ve warmed more to the idea after listening to that podcast. The guy is a family man - the way he spoke about his parents as he was growing up was encouraging for me.

Sure for some the language used was not the best but if you were to listen to most 20-somethings talking amongst their mates then this is pretty standard at certain times. It appeared that ICE and Smith had a history so he was probably comfortable and relaxed and said things off the cuff. It was even mentioned that ICE drove Smith to Robbo’s.

I much prefer that type of interview to the ‘we dug tough for the boys’ crap that gets dished up.

As for the ‘I want to win a comp in that jersey’ , I think Aubo must have done such a good job that Smith got caught up in the emotion. Maybe we should use him in all of our negotiations.

The guy wears his heart on his sleeve and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. If the Roosters and Robbo didn’t want him talking about what went on then I’m sure they would have told him so.

As for the ‘White Powder’ issue, whilst it’s disappointing it is far more common than some of us may realise. The hospitality industry for example is rife with it and I know many business executives who partake on a regular basis. Not that any of that makes it right but these days coke is one of the lesser of the recreational drug evils and while I don’t have any proof, I doubt whether the Roosters are completely innocent.

[Chookies74]

Robbo wants him because Bandon likes to take other players out into the 'deep water' and 'drown them'. That's a winners mentality and is good enough for me.
Radley, Smith, Jared, Lindsay - jeez there's some pain to be delivered there.

[RoosterFanNZ]

He has posted a little statement on his Instagram, denies a few things and apologised. But Doesn’t deny the roosters though

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

I am with Ray on this one. Sorry but I reckon he’s 100% right on everything he said. Especially on Robbo and Uncle Nick saying. “What have we done?”
Ray call’s Smith a Muttonhead. Now that’s being kind in my opinion. The guy is a jerk. What he’s done to the Storm who have stood by him with the white powder incident to now do this is reprehensible. And like Hadley said, who’s to say he wouldn’t do it to us. Seriously, it doesn’t sit right. We are better than this. It’s not a win at any cost at the Roosters. We have a brand we have to protect. We have sponsors we have to keep happy. We have to look at the bigger picture here.

I'm glad you are in a minority that agrees with Ray "taxi driver" Hadley

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

Every single time we sign a star there is some sad case that has to be a wowser and focus on the negatives.

[Johnny Tobin]

I am with Ray on this one. Sorry but I reckon he’s 100% right on everything he said. Especially on Robbo and Uncle Nick saying. “What have we done?”
Ray call’s Smith a Muttonhead. Now that’s being kind in my opinion. The guy is a jerk. What he’s done to the Storm who have stood by him with the white powder incident to now do this is reprehensible. And like Hadley said, who’s to say he wouldn’t do it to us. Seriously, it doesn’t sit right. We are better than this. It’s not a win at any cost at the Roosters. We have a brand we have to protect. We have sponsors we have to keep happy. We have to look at the bigger picture here.

Sponsors couldn't be happier.

And so will you be when Smith lifts a trophy.