South Sydney hooker Brandon Smith is accused of informing an alleged drug dealer of a change to the Rabbitohs starting team that may have led to a bet on him to be the first tryscorer in an NRL match.
Smith has been accused of providing “inside knowledge to a changed starting team” when he informed a person of interest to the police that he was going to start at hooker against Manly despite being named on an extended bench for his first game with the Rabbitohs on July 6.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation said the alleged drug dealer, a person known to Smith, contacted the NRL player to inform him of his decision to place a bet on him for anytime tryscorer after being named on an extended bench to return from a knee injury.
Smith allegedly then informed that person that he was in fact going to be shifted into the starting line up for the game against Manly, which may have led to the person of interest placing a first try-scorer bet on Smith.
There is no suggestion Smith encouraged the person to bet on him to be first tryscorer. Smith suffered an injury in the match and was replaced in the 76th minute. He didn’t score a try in the match. Manly’s Reuben Garrick scored the first try of the match.
Smith has been issued a summons to appear at Southport Magistrates Court on September 18, at which point he will be charged on one count of disclosing “inside knowledge” for illegal betting and one count of supplying dangerous drugs.
Brandon Smith comes from the field injured during the game in question.Credit: Getty Images
This masthead has been told that Queensland Police allege that Smith unlawfully supplied a dangerous drug (cocaine) to Roosters player Victor Radley on June 7 while he was in the town of Currimundi. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on Radley’s behalf.
Smith, who was in Sydney on June 7 and was contracted to the Rabbitohs when the incident occurred, was allegedly trying to buy or help facilitate the purchase of drugs for former teammate Radley, who was away with fellow Roosters on the Sunshine Coast during a bye round.
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