Melbourne Storm utility Brandon Smith is reportedly being chased by the Sydney Roosters.
Smith, 25, is off contract at the end of 2022, meaning clubs will be free to negotiate with him from November 1 this year.
With the Roosters already said to have reached out to Smith's agent, The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis says the interest is “real”.
“It’s definitely real,” Carayannis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The Roosters are keen to add that sort of middle player I guess, to play a similar role to Victor Radley who can play nine or 13.
“But Brandon Smith will be the most sought after player on the market come November 1, I don’t think there’s any hiding from that.
“Canterbury will be in for him massively, the Dragons might sniff around along with the Tigers. All the usual suspects.
“Melbourne have lost Dale Finucane so they won’t want to lose Brandon Smith, but he could command $700 or $800k on the open market if a club’s desperate to make him their number nine.”
With Smith set to receive big-money offers, Carayannis explained how the Roosters could move to the front of the queue.
“The Roosters will have a fair bit of money,” Carayannis explained.
“No Boyd Cordner there, no Jake Friend, no Brett Morris, they’ve got a little bit of freedom and Siosiua Taukeiaho looks like he could be going too.
“They’ve got a large turnover of players, they need to re-sign Joseph Manu, they’ve locked in Sam Walker but Brandon Smith would complement their forward pack outstandingly.
“We know when the Roosters want someone they hone in and give it all they’ve got.”
Smith is expected to at least see out his current contract with the Storm, meaning any new deal he could sign would begin at the start of 2023.