Brandon Smith’s South Sydney teammates are adamant he should be allowed to play against his former side on Friday night despite being charged with drug supply and an inside knowledge betting offence and facing court later this month.
The serious allegations were revealed last week but both the NRL and the Rabbitohs have no issue with Smith playing against the Roosters given his charges don’t automatically trigger the game’s no-fault stand-down policy.
Smith trained on Tuesday and is set to feature against the team he left midway through the season, including ex-teammate Victor Radley, who was dragged into the story for allegedly contacting Smith to procure drugs while away on a golf trip earlier this year.
There are no suggestions Radley did anything wrong.
Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi said Smith was in good spirits after a turbulent week and insisted he still trusted the 29-year-old who allegedly leaked information about his first game for the club.
“He’s been normal,” Koloamatangi said.
“He hasn’t brought any of his outside stuff that’s happening at the moment into the club, and that shows the type of person he is to make sure it’s not all about him. He’s just focused on getting the win this week.
“One hundred per cent he should play. It’s innocent until proven guilty, so why not?
“I just had lunch with him and he’s still joking around, so he’s exactly how he is. We just can’t wait to play, and I’m sure he can’t either against his old team.”
South Sydney veteran Jack Wighton was just as eager to move on.
“I don’t even know what knowledge it is or what’s going on. I’ve been off social media for the last six weeks,” he said.
“It’s none of my business. Whatever’s happening is for other people to deal with. I’m here to play with him. He’s my mate and my teammate, so we’ll get on with the job.”
The Rabbitohs are out of finals contention but could bundle the Roosters out of the top eight if they beat their fierce rivals and the Dolphins knock off the Raiders by a decent margin to leapfrog them into eighth spot.
Their hopes of spoiling the party could receive a huge boost if inspirational skipper Cameron Murray is cleared to play his first game of the year after he suffered an achilles rupture in the pre-season.
“I’m very hopeful,” Wighton replied when asked if the lock forward would play.
“I don’t know which way it’s going to lean just yet, that’s up to Wayne (coach Wayne Bennett) and Cam.
“He’s training well, he’s moving well. It’d be awesome to have a run with him in the last game.”
Originally published as ‘Innocent until proven guilty’: Teammates defend Brandon Smith as he prepares for fiery reunion with Roosters