Brandon Smith has opened up on a difficult couple of years on and off the field, with the Rabbitohs star not wanting to let down Wayne Bennett given all the support the veteran coach and the club have shown him.

Smith, 30, is in his second year at South Sydney after he made the big move from arch rivals the Roosters after a stint there that didn’t go to plan.

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He’s working his way back from a series of calf injuries that are related to the devastating ACL rupture he suffered in 2024, while the club has remained loyal as Smith waits to fight betting and drug charges in court.

“Particularly with all the off-field stuff that I’ve gone through while joining the Bunnies, it (loyalty) is something that is very important to me,” he said in a rare interview after last week’s win over Parramatta.

“Not just Wayne Bennett, but the whole club has stuck by my side and helped me through anything I could that I’m going through. I’m not saying any other club (wouldn’t have done it), but they’re doing a very good job with me at the moment.

“Wayne’s just a pleasure to work with because he reminds me a lot of Craig Bellamy. He’s less angry and the heart rate’s probably a lot lower, but he’s just a coach that you want to play a game of footy for.

“I have it in the back of my mind I don’t want to let Wayne down. I don’t want to let my teammates down any week, but especially I don’t want to let the coach down because he’s one of those people that he’s got your back through and through, and you just want to repay the favour to him.”

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 10: Brandon Smith of the Rabbitohs passes during the round 23 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and South Sydney Rabbitohs at Cbus Super Stadium, on August 10, 2025, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Smith had some nice moments against the Eels with a lovely try assist for Euan Aitken, but he’s still getting back to full fitness, with the club having to burn three interchanges to take him off, bring him back on and then replace him again.

“It’s been tough, I can’t say it’s been easy. But the Bunnies have done a great job in limiting my minutes throughout my comeback and hopefully building my body back into shape,” he said.

“I probably didn’t do enough with my knee after my ACL and there’s been a lot of backlash from that. My calf’s been going because of that, it’s the same knee, but the Bunnies have been doing a great job.

“I probably could have played a lot earlier a few times, but they kept me back just to keep going, and you’ve probably seen I’m using up three interchanges every game, but that’s all purposeful stuff.

“Hopefully, I stay on the field at the end of the day and just keep building the engine. I feel like it was a lot better (against the Eels) but it’s still a work in progress.

“I think I take my job for granted a lot because it’s a pretty easy job (apart from the) body getting sore. A lot of people have it worse than I do. I still get paid even though my calf’s (injured). I still get paid, so it’s pretty chill.

“Mentally, it’s been awesome to be back on the paddock and being able to be a part of this team and be on the field. I’m extremely grateful for that.”