South Sydney star Brandon Smith hits training paddock after being hit with drugs supply charges

Smith had initially dodged the large contingent of television cameras and photographers posted outside club’s facilities, having arrived before media crews assembled.

All eyes then turned to the Rabbitohs training paddock where the besieged star was the last of his teammates to run out – momentarily raising questions over whether or not he had been given the day off to avoid the media scrutiny.

But Smith, who was cut from the Roosters mid-season, appeared nonplussed by all the attention surrounding him, or by what is expected to be a fiery encounter against his former teammates.

He trained with the Rabbitohs bench and was his usual vocal self during the session.

The 29-year-old was all smiles as he posed for photos during a promotion for the club’s major sponsor MG.

Last week, Smith was issued a summons by Queensland police over a drug supply and an ‘inside knowledge’ betting offence.

Smith’s former Roosters teammate Victor Radley was unwittingly dragged into the furore when his name appeared on the summons issued by police, adding another layer of intrigue to Friday’s encounter at Allianz Stadium.

There are no suggestions that Radley has done anything wrong and he is not of interest to Queensland police.

Star centre Jack Wighton, who is set to return from a three-week suspension and trained at left centre on Tuesday, brushed aside any concerns over Roosters players putting a target on Smith’s back.

“Who cares if they do,” Wighton said when asked if the Roosters would single out Smith.

“He’s been training well. He’s my mate and I can’t wait to play with him no matter what else is going on.

“He’s done it (played against a former side) a couple of times with Melbourne and he gets to do it again. He’s got two rival clubs now.

“You never really know what a man is thinking or feeling but we are here to care about him, all the other stuff will sort itself out. As long as he knows he is our teammate and he’s my mate.”

Keaon Koloamatangi said his South Sydney teammates still trusted Smith amid allegations he used “inside knowledge to a changed starting team for a person to make a relevant bet.”

The Souths prop said the Rabbitohs had Smith’s back.

“He’s innocent until proven guilty. Until then, he’s my teammate and I can’t wait to play alongside him,” he said.

“Cheese (Smith) has not brought any of the outside noise into the club, what is happening in the media is in the media but he’s our teammate … I just had lunch with him, talking crap. He’s still his normal self.”

Koloamatangi also declared skipper Cameron Murray is ‘ready to go’ for the highly-anticipated battle between the bitter rivals.

Murray, who is yet to play a game in 2025 after going down with an Achilles injury during the pre-season, was named on Tuesday – boosting the Rabbitohs’ chances of landing a hammer blow to the Roosters’ top eight chances.

The hardworking forward got through his first match simulation training session unscathed on Tuesday morning and has been named on the bench for the Roosters clash but a final call on his fitness will be made later in the week.

“We had a tough session today, it’s the first time he has done that match simulation. His lungs were blowing a bit but he’s happy and ready to go,” Koloamatangi said.

“Yeah, hopefully (he’s there). I miss playing alongside him, he’s one of the best players in the competition.”

Wighton praised Murray’s commitment to the club given Friday’s clash is a ‘dead rubber’ for the Rabbitohs.

“He’s a different beast, there is nothing to compete for premiership wise. Whether he plays or not, he puts his best foot forward, he’s there driving (standards) and training well. You don’t have to do that, it’s a dead rubber season but he wants to play for his mates,” Wighton said.

“He’s got nothing to gain except his pride and showing what we and the club means to him.”

Wighton’s inclusion will be a shot in the arm to Alex Johnston’s pursuit of the all-time try scoring record. The winger only needs three tries to surpass Ken Irvine’s all-time record of 212.

Superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell was also in a jovial mood on Tuesday and trained with the rehab group, doing some running work separate to the main group. Coach Wayne Bennett is keeping Mitchell on ice, as he recovers from a back injury.

JUNIOR TURF WAR

The longstanding rivalry between the Sydney powerhouse clubs took another twist this week.

Rabbitohs junior Keone Anitelea-Tsioussis, who was rated as the club’s most exciting up and coming talent since Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, was poached by the Roosters only further inflaming tensions between the rivals.

In an email to NSWRL, CEO Blake Solly accused the Roosters of cannibalising the Rabbitohs’ “junior league or pathways program”.

But just last week, South Sydney struck their own pathways blow by landing promising halves prospect from the Roosters in Isaac Fotu-Moala.

While rising forward Rabbitohs forward Tallis Duncan was part of the Roosters’ SG Ball program in 2019.

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“I guess nowadays, loyalty is not much,” Mascot Jets junior Koloamatangi said.

“When I was playing, Souths had the best juniors competition and there are lot of Souths juniors still playing today that were around when I was younger. Our strength comes from our South juniors.

“If other clubs are pinching from us, that’s a good sign.”

Originally published as South Sydney star Brandon Smith hits training paddock after being hit with drugs supply charges