Smith joins Souths effective immediately after Roosters release

The Rabbitohs have confirmed Roosters hooker Brandon Smith will join the club effective immediately to begin his two and a half year stay at Redfern.

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“The South Sydney Rabbitohs are delighted to announce the signing of premiership-winning, international forward Brandon Smith for the remainder of the 2025 season, effective immediately,” South Sydney said in a statement.

“Smith’s former club has released him from the remaining six months of his playing contract, meaning he will join the Rabbitohs for the remainder of this season, plus the 2026 and 2027 seasons as was announced in March this year.”

Smith, 28, has played 148 NRL games since making his NRL debut for the Storm against the Knights in round 13 of the 2017 season, scoring 27 tries so far in his career.

Smith won an NRL premiership with the Storm in 2020, played in another NRL Grand Final in 2018, was part of the Storm’s premiership-winning squad in 2017, won a World Club Challenge title in 2018, has played 13 Tests for New Zealand, and has represented the Maori All Stars on three occasions.

Brandon Smith has signed with the Rabbitohs. Source: FOX SPORTS

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Smith was crowned the Dally M Hooker of the Year in 2021, the Dally M Interchange Player of the Year in 2019 and the Preston Campbell Medallist in 2020.

The Rabbitohs look forward to Brandon joining the Club this week in preparation for his return to the field in the coming weeks.

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The Roosters officially released Smith on Tuesday.

“The Sydney Roosters have today announced that Brandon Smith has been granted an immediate release from his contract to facilitate his early move to another NRL Club,” the Roosters said in a statement.

Sydney Roosters player 1213, Smith made 21 appearances in his debut season with the Club (2023) and featured in 20 games for the Roosters in 2024 before he was sidelined by an ACL injury.

Roosters Head of Recruitment, Daniel Anderson, said: “We appreciate Brandon’s contributions over the last two and a half years, he was playing some very good football before he was sidelined by his knee injury.

“With his return to play not too far away, we thank Brandon and extend our best wishes in the next chapter of his career.”

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