Smith reveals how rehab stint helped change his "party boy" identity

Brandon Smith has revealed he attended a rehabilitation facility for four weeks over the off-season in order to address his alcohol abuse.

Smith, 29, experienced a tumultuous 2025, moving from the Sydney Roosters to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and being charged with gambling and drug offences in September.

The representative hooker revealed he had felt an obligation to live up to the “party boy” persona he developed in rugby league, but his time in rehab redirected his attention to “re-identifying” himself as a professional athlete.

In an honest and vulnerable interview, Smith opened up about his mental health and alcohol abuse challenges, and how he intended to move forward.

“I don't know why I'm hiding, but I went on a four-week holiday to a rehab facility. It's something I couldn't more highly recommend to people who are dealing with issues and mine was mental health and alcohol abuse, pretty much of every nature,” Smith told The Bye Round podcast.

“What I really learnt in there was throughout the last five years of my career, I had this identity of this party boy, and I sort of played up to that identity and didn't want to disappoint anyone.

“When I came out of the facility it was all about reidentifying myself as a professional athlete. I'm not Brandon Smith the party boy, I'm Brandon Smith the professional rugby league player playing for South Sydney.”

“For so long I enjoyed the rugby league and party life, but I'm a little bit allergic to alcohol now.

“I'm doing everything I can to stay on the straight and narrow. I attend AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings and GA (Gamblers Anonymous) meetings. I do everything I can to just stay on this path.

“The life I am living right now is so much better than the life I was living this last couple of years.

“Since I've left (rehab), I've gone to at least three team functions where all the boys were having a fun time, but I managed to do it without alcohol.

“I'm still an annoying larrikin, a pest of a bloke. I didn't need alcohol to do all that. It was refreshing to know I could do it without alcohol.”

Smith explained he had entered rehab of his own accord, and that there was no pressure from the Rabbitohs to go, instead praising the club for their support as he looked to mend himself and his personal image.

“I went there on my own accord. It wasn't because I was in trouble. I went and saw the Bunnies and said I'm going to go do this to make my image look good,” Smith said.

“I went in there before anyone knew anything and I revealed to them I was there. And because it went about that way, that's the reason why my recovery went so good, because it wasn't something that was forced upon me. It was something where I stood back and said, 'I need this.'

“It's been really impactful. It's hard to stay the way I was when I first left because it's fresh in your mind. I think I'm 105 days alcohol free.

“The life I'm living now is so much better than the life I was living the last couple of years.

“Lucky my teammates know and it's a testament to them that it never got out. Obviously, it's a vulnerable time in my life, something I'm very happy for.”

Smith is contracted to the Rabbitohs until the end of 2027, having played 153 games since his debut in 2017.

He’s also represented New Zealand on 13 occasions, and will be pushing for inclusion in the World Cup squad at the end of the year.

The Rabbitohs open their 2026 season against The Dolphins on March 8.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours / 7 days), text 0477 13 11 14, or chat online at lifeline.org.au.