Brandon Smith’s bombshell podcast appearance hasn’t only left the Storm furious as the NRL’s newest team lost more than just his signature.
The Dolphins were announced as the NRL’s 17th team in October, but since then, the side have just two signings, outside coach Wayne Bennett, to show for their efforts.
When the Moreton Bay-based outfit landed Bennett as the coach, it appeared as though the big fish were going to fall into the Dolphins’ lap as every NRL star was linked to the newest team.
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And yet, just under two months later, the club has only trumpeted the signings of former Queensland under-18s representative Harrison Graham and Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Australian representative forward Felise Kaufusi.
But plenty of other stars have fallen by the wayside, including a marquee hooker as Eels star Reed Mahoney signed for the Canterbury Bulldogs and Brandon Smith seemingly pledged himself to the Sydney Roosters.
Smith has landed himself in hot water this week after his bombshell interview on YKTR’s The Ice Project.
While some people focused on the swearing as the big issue, Smith admitted that while there were upwards of six clubs in the hunt for his signature, he had already made up his mind before speaking glowingly of the Roosters.
He even admitted “I want to win a premiership in that jersey” when visiting the Roosters, who laid out the welcome mat.
While the Roosters don’t have the salary freedom of the likes of the Dolphins, Smith said the club offered so much more.
But speaking on Triple M, rugby league reporter Ben Dobbin revealed that Smith had cost the Dolphins a shot of landing one of the top hookers in the game.
“He (Smith) had given verbal guarantees that he was going to commit to the Dolphins and do a deal there,” Dobbin said.
“The Dolphins dropped off Reed Mahoney for the simple reason that they believed that they were going to Brandon Smith.”
The Storm had already moved to block Harry Grant from going north by locking him up until the end of the 2023 season.
It’s been a dire start to recruitment for the Dolphins, who are still chasing marquee and experienced players for the club’s inaugural team.
It comes hot on the heels of two more players turning the Dolphins down.
29-year-old Roosters prop Siosiua Taukeiaho turned down a reported $600,000 a year deal with the Dolphins for a trip to the south of France and Super League club Catalans Dragons.
Catalans have been wildly successful this recruitment season, landing Mitchell Pearce, prop Dylan Napa and disgraced ex-Panther Tyrone May.
Ironically, it’s believed Taukeiaho was squeezed out by the Roosters’ willingness to sign Smith.
The Dolphins also failed to attract Sharks rake Blayke Brailey according to News Corp’s Dave Riccio, as the Sharks signed him on a four-year deal.