Former State of Origin representative Scott Sattler is hearing that wantaway Melbourne Storm star Brandon Smith has signed with a new NRL club.
Sattler told Gary Belcher on Sportsday last night that a trustworthy source is telling him that Smith has signed a three-year deal with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs from 2022.
The Kiwi has previously been outspoken in his desire to play the hooker position, and with Harry Grant now at the Storm, it appears he will have to look elsewhere to don the number nine.
“I’m hearing a whisper from a pretty good source,” Sattler said.
“Brandon Smith who’s still in contract with the Storm for next year… wants to go play number nine at a club that doesn’t have a Harry Grant or a respected number nine already.
“Respectfully to Jeremy Marshall-King who’s at the Bulldogs at the moment, but rumours are that he (Brandon Smith) has signed a three-year deal with the Bulldogs as of next year.”
The 24-year-old is currently tied to Melbourne until the end of 2022, but the club has been open in the past to letting him leave the club if a reasonable player swap is offered.
“The Storm have always said they’ll look at releasing him if they get a player in return,” Sattler added.
“But, I don’t think they’ll let him go without a fight.”
Belcher agreed, beleiving that Smith is too valuable to the Storm to let him walk away from his contract.
“If I’m Craig Bellamy and I’m going in to finals with Harry Grant as hooker and Brandon Smith coming off the bench, I wouldn’t let him go this year, or even next year,” Belcher said.
“He just adds something to every side he plays in.”
Listen to Sattler’s mail below.
