The text messages which Queensland Police allege show South Sydney star Brandon Smith provided inside information about his return to friends have been revealed.
Smith faces Southport Magistrates Court tomorrow where he is set to be charged on one count of disclosing “inside knowledge” for illegal betting and one count of supplying dangerous drugs. It’s understood he will plead not guilty.
Brandon Smith’s lawyer has said there is no evidence has client altered his game or tried to alter that of his teammates.
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“I am not going to run a case through the media but … there’s no evidence to suggest that we made that person put on any bet or any suggestions that we actually altered our game either on our own or with other teammates in order to effect the result of that particular bet, e.g. scoring a try or being the first tryscorer,” Paul McGirr told Code Sports.
“As we know there was no collect on that particular bet because Brandon Smith didn’t score a try.”
The SMH has revealed the alleged correspondence, from a police brief, between Smith and two friends who are brothers.
One of them (Friend B) is the alleged drug dealer whose number police allege Smith provided to former Roosters teammate Victor Radley on a golf trip in June.
Group Chat 1 (July 2)
Friend A: You playing this weekend
Smith: Yep
Friend A: First grade?
Smith: Yeah bro. Told me today. Starting too lol
Alleged exchange between Radley & Smith | 02:53
Group Chat 2 (July 5, from 6:35pm)
Friend A: Let’s go (Shares a screenshot of a $250 bet placed on Sportsbet for Brandon Smith anytime try scorer – odds $8.50 with potential return $2,125)
Smith: 8.50 that’s f…ing crazy
Friend A: Can I get a confirmation you are run on? (starting)
Smith: I’m run on. 100 percent
Friend A: (Shares a screenshot of a $200 bet placed on Sportsbet for Brandon Smith first try scorer – odds $91 with potential return $18,200).
Smith: Hahahahahaha
“Victor may have played his last game” | 03:17
Chat with Smith and Friend B (July 5, from 6:37pm)
Smith to Friend B: Bro I’m paying $91 for first try scorer
Friend B: Back it?
Smith: I’m starting
Friend B: I’ll back it
Smith: So it’s not a bad bet. Bra ask [Friend A] to send you his bet. 8.5 anytime. And 91. Sports bet. Think it’s getting bobbed haha
Friend B: I just went on lads got 51
Police allege a day after the latter two text exchanges, Smith was announced as moving from the extended bench to starting.
“That’s concerning,” Fox League’s Dan Ginnane said on NRL 360.
Journalist Michael Carrayanis added: “The second text is him instigating, that’s the problem.
“The first one … he said haha, I’m starting, along those lines. I don’t have an issue with that because that’s mail we could get in our everyday jobs.
“But he has prompted this exchange (about the first try-scorer bet) … he’s put it on someone’s radar.”
“There’s no red flags in his performance at all. That’s not screaming alarm bells, I don’t think he altered his performance … but it becomes murky, and this is why players can’t bet on games.”
Smith went close to scoring the first try of the game but it was recorded by Manly’s Reuben Garrick in the 17th minute.
Smith did not end up scoring, leaving the game injured in the 76th minute.
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