The irony wasn’t lost on Brandon Smith as he posed in a faux Roosters ‘Nandos’ jersey on Wednesday morning with a bowl of mac and cheese.
It’s the closest he will get to wearing Tricolours kit again as his tumultuous few years as the club’s marquee signing comes to an early end.
“It’s been disappointing,” Smith said frankly when asked to sum up his time as a Rooster, stressing he has no issue with his looming release to join arch-rivals South Sydney.
Smith arrived at Bondi touted as the $2.5 million missing puzzle piece for Trent Robinson, but instead became an oft-highlighted recruitment misstep before rupturing his ACL last year.
“I would have liked to get back [playing] and right some wrongs,” Smith said.
“I was not playing good enough and taking up a lot of the Chooks’ salary cap, I understand the decision of why they’re moving on. It’s not like they’re moving me on for no reason.
“[Expectation] weighed on me after a couple of games where I knew I didn’t perform as well as I should have, and probably maybe cost them a few games in there.
Brandon Smith promotes Nando’s newest menu addition.Credit: Adam Taylor
“It’s obviously hard to take in when you’re not feeling wanted or appreciated. I’ve got no problem with that. They’re just hurt feelings. But they want to win and unfortunately I wasn’t doing the right job for them, so they’ve moved me on and I’ve moved on too.”
Smith trained with the Roosters reserve grade side on Wednesday and hopes to be in cardinal and myrtle by this time next week, with a return to playing still six weeks away.
The foundation clubs are haggling over the breakdown of Smith’s final $400,000 for this season, with the Roosters pushing for South Sydney to pay around $200,000 as the Bunnies argue for $30,000 less.
Adding to the fun of this week’s news, a photo of Smith signing a document at a cafe has done the rounds in rugby league circles.
Smith confirmed that the paparazzi snap was part of his promotion of Nando’s new mac and cheese, and could only laugh at the timing of his “signing” with the restaurant chain.
The 28-year-old said he understands the Roosters “business decision” to let him go early to prioritise extending Naufahu Whyte and Blake Steep – “because if they let them go on the open market, they’re in trouble”.
Smith joined the Roosters to play hooker from Melbourne where he couldn’t shift Australian and Queensland No.9 Harry Grant.
He couldn’t care less where he plays under Wayne Bennett though. Just that he’s feeling the love in a relationship even Smith is surprised at being rekindled given he left Bennett hanging on a Dolphins deal in 2021.
“We’ve had many talks, me and Wayne,” Smith grinned.
“But some of them didn’t go so well a few years ago. We haven’t had too many chats lately but every time we do, it’s pretty straight to the point.
“Souths want me, and they’re keen to have me. And it shows in their interest right now. As soon as they found out [about the potential early release], they rang me straight away.
“I was coming home from [Angus Crichton’s] wedding so I was having a lot of big conversations with Robbo and Wayne with a lot of emotions running for me.
“At this point in my career I don’t really give a damn where I play position-wise. I’ll play wherever I’m needed, it’s just nice to be wanted.”
