Smith cleared to play for Souths despite police charges
Scott Bailey, Jasper Bruce and George Clarke |
Brandon Smith has been cleared by the NRL in the final round for South Sydney, as the embattled hooker prepares to fight charges laid by Queensland police.
The reverberations of Smith’s drug-supply charge were still being felt around the NRL on Tuesday, with his former club the Sydney Roosters releasing a strongly-worded statement after being caught up in the drama.
Smith has been summoned to face Southport Magistrates Court next month, on a charge of supplying dangerous drugs.
He has also been accused by Queensland Police of disclosing inside knowledge for betting, and faces another charge over that.
South Sydney have stood by the 29-year-old, with coach Wayne Bennett adamant he will pick him to face the Roosters next Friday night after the Rabbitohs’ bye.
And the NRL also confirmed on Tuesday they would have no issue with Smith playing, ruling out the prospect of enforcing an immediate ban.
“The NRL is not satisfied that the player has been charged with an offence that triggers the automatic application of the no-fault stand-down condition,” an NRL spokesperson said in a statement.
“The NRL also does not intend to impose a stand down condition under its discretionary powers.
“As this matter is currently before the Queensland courts, the NRL will offer no further comment.”
It’s believed the NRL only learnt of the charges against Smith as news broke of the matter on Monday afternoon.
Smith had been questioned by Queensland Police on arrival on the Gold Coast earlier this month before a game, but was released without charge.
Queensland Police are expected to allege Smith attempted to supply drugs to a Roosters player while they were away in early June, soon after the hooker left the club.
Star lock Victor Radley’s name is believed to appear on the summons, with he and other Roosters players having been on a golf trip on the Sunshine Coast at the time.
A Chad Townsend Instagram post shows he, James Tedesco, Hugo Savala, Sandon Smith, Egan Butcher, Zach Dockar-Clay and Radley all attended the trip.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Radley or any of the players who travelled north over the Roosters’ round-14 bye weekend.
The Roosters released a statement on Tuesday that confirmed they had been in contact with the NRL over the matter, and vowed to defend the club’s name following media reports on the issue.
“The Sydney Roosters have procedures in place to deal with the sorts of allegations made in today’s written media and on TV. We will address the matter once the facts have been established via the judicial system,” the statement read.
“When in possession of the facts, the Sydney Roosters will take any necessary action, including any action available to us to defend our proud name. It is what our fans, staff, players and sponsors demand of us.”
The Tricolours have previously trumpeted one of the toughest approaches to drugs in sport, with chairman Nick Politis claiming a zero-tolerance approach earlier this year.
“My view is if somebody’s caught doing cocaine or leaning over snorting something, we’re going to get rid of them,” Politis told News Corp in January.
“Our stance is zero tolerance. We are very strong on it. Trent (Robinson) is very strong on it.”
Smith’s charge regarding disclosing inside information for betting is believed to relate to his comeback from an ACL rupture last month against Manly.
The dummy-half had been named on an extended bench in the Rabbitohs’ No.22 jersey, before starting at hooker as one of several changes in the team list.
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AAP
