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Brandon Smith (rugby league)

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Brandon "The Cheese" Smith[1]
Personal information
Full nameBrandon Smith
Born (1996-05-31) 31 May 1996 (age 28)
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
Playing information
PositionHooker, Lock
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017–22 Melbourne Storm 107 22 0 0 88
2023– Sydney Roosters 41 5 0 0 20
Total 148 27 0 0 108
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018–22 New Zealand 13 4 0 0 16
2019–24 Māori All Stars 3 2 0 0 8
Source: [2][3][4]
As of 1 September 2024

Brandon Smith (born 31 May 1996) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker and lock for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL), and for New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.

Smith previously played for the Melbourne Storm with whom he won the 2020 NRL Grand Final.

Early life

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Smith was born in Waiheke Island, New Zealand, and is of Norwegian and Māori descent.[5]

He played his junior rugby league for the Waiheke Rams and Bay Roskill Young Guns in New Zealand.[citation needed]

He moved to Townsville as a teenager because his older brother Dylan Smith had an under 20s contract with the North Queensland Cowboys. In Townsville, he was educated at Kirwan State High School, Townsville where he played school-level football.[6] He continued playing junior league with Centrals Tigers and Brothers in Townsville.[7]

Playing career

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Smith played for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Youth Competition for two seasons, playing 44 games and scoring 30 tries.[8] In May 2016, he played for the 2016 Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos.[9] In September 2016, he was named at hooker in the Team of the Year.[10] He signed a 3-year contract with the Melbourne Storm in the following month.[11]

2017

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On 30 April, Smith was named in the New Zealand national team's 20-man squad for the 2017 Anzac Test.[12]

He made his NRL debut for the Melbourne Storm against the Knights in round 13, scoring a try.[13][14][15] On 24 July, he signed a major contract extension with Melbourne, tying him to the club until the end of 2022, with the intention of his becoming Cameron Smith's replacement as hooker.[16]

2018

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At the beginning of the season he was part of the Melbourne Storm victorious 2018 World Club Challenge Team. In round 23, against the Eels, Smith demonstrated his gritty character by playing a vital role for his depleted team, displaying determination to win with an injured knee. Brandon was also part of the Melbourne Storm team that played in the 2018 NRL Grand Final.

On 13 October, Smith made his international debut for the New Zealand Kiwis against the Australian Kangaroos in Auckland.

2019

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Smith played 23 games for Melbourne in the 2019 NRL season as the club finished as runaway minor premiers. Smith played in the club's preliminary final loss to the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[17]

2020

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Smith was selected as a part of the Māori All Stars winning team on the Gold Coast at the NRL All-Stars Match. He was awarded the Preston Campbell Medal for his two tries man of the match performance. After the game it was revealed that Smith had suffered a facial fracture and was ruled out for 4–6 weeks.[18] On 2 July, in Round 8 of the Telstra Premiership, Smith played his 50th NRL game on Thursday Night Football against the Sydney Roosters. Smith started at hooker for the game. He finished the season victorious playing off the bench in the 2020 NRL Grand Final against Penrith.

2021

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Smith played a total of 24 games for Melbourne in the 2021 NRL season as the club won 19 matches in a row and claimed the Minor Premiership. Smith played in all three finals matches including the preliminary final where Melbourne suffered a shock 10-6 loss against eventual premiers Penrith.[19]

In September 2021, a video was leaked to the media which showed Smith along with Melbourne teammates Cameron Munster and Chris Lewis partying while Smith was taking an illicit substance which was alleged to be cocaine. Smith was handed a $50,000 suspended fine, a one match suspension and he was removed from Melbourne's emerging leadership group.[20]

In November 2021, Smith was placed under heavy scrutiny for comments he made while being a guest on the YKTR podcast. When being interviewed Smith stated he dreamed of winning a premiership in a Sydney Roosters jersey even though he was still contracted with Melbourne for the 2022 season. Smith also claimed the Melbourne club had a big drinking culture and named several teammates being involved in drunken behaviour. Smith was later placed under investigation by the NRL Integrity Unit over his appearance on the podcast.[21][22]

On the 17 December, Smith officially signed with the Sydney Roosters, on a three-year deal starting in 2023.[23]

2022

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In round 1 of the 2022 NRL season, Smith was taken from the field with an injury early in the first half of the club's match against the Wests Tigers. It was later announced that Smith would be ruled out for a month with a broken hand.[24]

In round 16 of the season, Smith played his 100th NRL game in Melbourne's 36-30 loss against Manly.[25]

The following week, Smith was sent to the sin bin for dissent during Melbourne's 28-6 loss against Cronulla. As Smith left the field following his dismissal, he became involved in a verbal altercation with Cronulla supporters.[26]

On 12 July, Smith was suspended for three matches over the incident.[27]

Smith behind Jordan Rapana warming up for New Zealand in 2022

In October, Smith was named in the New Zealand squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[28]

2023

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In round 1 of the 2023 NRL season, Smith made his club debut for the Sydney Roosters as they suffered a shock loss to the newly admitted Dolphins team. Smith played a total of 21 games for the club as they qualified for the finals. Smith played in the Sydney Roosters elimination semi-final loss against Melbourne where he scored a try.[29][30]

2024

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On 21 May, the Sydney Roosters hit back at claims that Smith had been taking illegal substances on a live stream along with fellow players Terrell May, Zach Dockar-Clay, Naufahu Whyte and Spencer Leniu. The club released a statement which read "The Sydney Roosters have been made aware of a small clip from a longer live stream that some on social media have claimed identifies behaviour that breaches NRL rules. The clip reveals no use of illicit substances or any other breach of NRL rules, however some see fit to make that grossly distorted and clearly damaging claim".[31] On 10 June, it was reported that the Sydney Roosters had issued Smith with a breach notice in relation to him missing a mandatory mid-season review session.[32] During the Sydney Roosters round 26 loss against Canberra, Smith was taken from the field after suffering both an ACL and MCL injury. Smith was later ruled out for an indefinite period.[33]

Statistics

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Year Team Games Tries Pts
2017 Melbourne Storm 3 2 8
2018 18
2019 23 3 12
2020 18 3 12
2021 24 11 44
2022 21 3 12
2023 Sydney Roosters 21 3 8
2024 20 2 8
Totals 148 27 108

Honours

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Individual

  • Melbourne Storm Rookie of the Year: 2018
  • Preston Campbell Medal: 2020
  • Melbourne Storm Forward of the Year: 2020
  • Melbourne Storm Forward of the Year: 2021
  • Dally M Hooker of the Year: 2021

Club

References

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  1. ^ Brandon Smith - The Block of Cheese | NRL on Nine, retrieved 21 June 2021
  2. ^ "Brandon Smith – Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project.
  3. ^ "Official NRL profile of Brandon Smith for Melbourne Storm - NRL". Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  4. ^ Pay as you go: Brandon Smith's bid to buy his freedom from Storm
  5. ^ Brett Finch (3 March 2021). "Brett Finch Uncensored" (Podcast). YKTR. Event occurs at 2:00. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  6. ^ Walter, Brad (23 June 2017). "Brandon Smith hopes to follow in childhood idol's footsteps". Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  7. ^ NRL Digital Media. "Meet: Brandon Smith – Storm". Melbournestorm.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  8. ^ "S". Nyc Database. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Updated: Representative Round team lists". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  10. ^ "2016 Holden Cup Team of the Year announced". NRL.com. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  11. ^ Melbourne Storm (11 October 2016). "Storm re-sign Griffin, add youngsters". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Kiwis team announced to take on Kangaroos". NRL.com. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  13. ^ "Updated team lists: Storm v Knights". NRL.com. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  14. ^ NRL Digital Media. "Late Mail – Round 13 – Storm". Melbournestorm.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Slater stars as Storm thrash Knights". NRL.com. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  16. ^ Dan Walsh (24 July 2017). "NRL 2017: Melbourne Storm lock in Big Three successors with four key re-signings". Fox Sports. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  17. ^ Howcroft, Jonathan (28 September 2019). "Roosters 14-6 Storm: NRL preliminary final – as it happened". The Guardian.
  18. ^ "All Stars hero Smith to miss 4-6 weeks with facial fracture". www.nrl.com. 24 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Penrith Panthers beat Melbourne Storm 10-6 to reach second straight NRL grand final, will face South Sydney Rabbitohs". ABC News. 25 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Munster sent to rehab, axed from leadership as Storm make $100k statement over scandal". www.foxsports.com.au. 5 October 2021.
  21. ^ "NRL investigating Brandon Smith over podcast detail". www.foxsports.com.au. 29 November 2021.
  22. ^ "'Deeply offended' Storm address Brandon Smith's future after 'drinking culture' drama". 7news.com.au. 30 November 2021.
  23. ^ Bruce, Jasper (17 December 2021). "Melbourne Storm star Brandon Smith signs with rival club for 2023". News.com.au.
  24. ^ "Melbourne Storm eye up replacements after losing Christian Welch in brutal NRL opener". www.msn.com.
  25. ^ "Manly duo 'on fire' as 'clunky' Storm almost steal win in 'bizarre' finish: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au.
  26. ^ "'What did you say bra?': Storm star Smith's big admission after ugly clash with Sharks fan". www.foxsports.com.au.
  27. ^ "Brandon Smith cops ban after calling ref a 'cheating b*****d' as NRL comes down hard". www.foxsports.com.au.
  28. ^ Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
  29. ^ "'I don't want to take the gloss off... but': Kenty's warning for Dolphins after historic first-up win". www.foxsports.com.au.
  30. ^ "Munster magic delivers epic semi-final win after Roosters robbed by refereeing howler". www.foxsports.com.au. 15 September 2023.
  31. ^ "'Not right': Tedesco defends teammates as Roosters blast 'grossly distorted' claims over viral video". www.foxsports.com.au.
  32. ^ "'Mistake from my end': Brandon Smith issued breach notice by Roosters after skipping mid-season review". www.nine.com.au.
  33. ^ "NRL Casualty Ward: Season over for Walker, Smith; Radley fractures shoulder". www.nrl.com.
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