Brandon Smith cops ugly development at the Roosters after revelation about girlfriend

Brandon Smith and his partner could be set for a move with reports the Roosters could be set to offload the No.9 before he returns from injury. Last week, Smith caused a stir with his old club having weighed-in on Ryan Papenhuyzen's circumstance at Melbourne.

And while Papenhuyzen is trying to sort out his new deal, Smith could also be on the look out for a new club. Reports suggested the Roosters were not overly keen on extending Smith's stay past 2025 when his contract ends.

Smith is on $900,000 a year having signed from Melbourne in 2023, but his first two seasons at the Roosters have been rather underwhelming. The No.9's season ended in disaster having suffered an ACL injury in one of the last regular season games.

The 28-year-old isn't set to return until the middle of the 2025 NRL season. And the Roosters are reportedly open to letting him leave before he gets back from injury, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

The publication has reported the Roosters are willing to release him and join another club as he recovers from his ACL injury. This follows the Roosters suddenly allowing Terrell May to negotiate with other clubs. The Roosters and coach Trent Robinson appear to be looking to revamp the side heading into the 2025 season.

Brandon Smith and girlfriend settled in Sydney

The news comes only days after Smith claimed he wanted to stay at the Roosters with girlfriend his girlfriend feeling at home in Sydney. “I haven’t spoken to them yet because Robbo (coach Trent Robinson) is still away,” Smith said on James Graham’s The Bye Round podcast about his Roosters future.

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“When we get back to training we will have the proper discussion. "Ideally I would like to stay at the Roosters. I don’t want to go anywhere and my partner is well entrenched in the club. Ideally I would like to stay but the game of rugby league doesn’t always have the same opinions as yourself.”

Brandon Smith facing contract dilemma

Reporter Michael Chammas recently spoke about Smith's future at the Roosters and believes the No.9 won't be at the club after his contract ends in 2025. “I don’t see him at the Roosters beyond next year. I think they are making plans for life without Brandon Smith,” Chammas said on the James Graham The Bye Round podcast.

“I hear he’s in a good head space, and they’re happy the way he finished the year. But all the mail I’ve been getting out of the Roosters is that next year will be his final year at the club, and they’ll move into a different direction.” This could open the door for the Roosters to make a two-year offer for Hunt who could play halfback in 2025 - with Sam Walker expected to miss at least half of the season - and switch to utility in 2026.