Rabbitohs sign Brandon Smith for the 2026 and 2027 seasons
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are delighted to announce the signing of international forward and premiership-winner Brandon Smith for 2026 and 2027 seasons today.
Smith, 28, has played 148 NRL games since making his NRL debut for the Storm against the Knights in round 13 of the 2017 season, scoring 27 tries so far in his career. Smith won an NRL premiership with the Storm in 2020, played in another NRL Grand Final in 2018, was part of the Storm’s premiership-winning squad in 2017, won a World Club Challenge title in 2018, has played 13 Tests for New Zealand, and has represented the Maori All Stars on three occasions. Smith was crowned the Dally M Hooker of the Year in 2021, the Dally M Interchange Player of the Year in 2019 and the Preston Campbell Medallist in 2020.
Smith is one of the premier forwards in the NRL competition, capable of playing in multiple positions, and will be a big boost to the Rabbitohs forward pack from 2026 onwards.
“Brandon has a wonderful record of success in the NRL and at international level, having a 70% success rate across his career,” Rabbitohs Head of Recruitment and Retention, Mark Ellison, said.
Mark Ellison"He improves the players around him and gives 100% every time he steps on the field, and is a great character off the field"
“Wayne (Bennett) has a high opinion of Brandon and they will have the opportunity to work together here at South Sydney.
“As a young man in New Zealand, he wore the red and green jersey of the Waiheke Rams and now he will have the chance to earn the right to wear the red and green jersey of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
“We’re delighted to have signed an international-calibre player with a history of premiership success such as Brandon and we wish him the best of luck for the remainder of his time at his current club.”
| Biography | |
|---|---|
| Name | Brandon Smith |
| Date of Birth | 31 May 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Waiheke Island, NZ |
| Position | Utility forward |
| Height | 180cm |
| Weight | 94kg |
| Junior Club | Waiheke Rams |
| Previous Clubs | Storm (2017-22); Roosters (2023-current) |
| NRL Debut | Storm vs Knights, AAMI Park, 2 June 2017 (Rd 13) |
| NRL Games | 148 (107 for the Storm; 41 for the Roosters) |
| NRL Points | 108 (from 22 tries for the Storm; five tries for the Roosters) |
| Rep Honours | 13 Tests for New Zealand (2018-19, 2022); World Cup (New Zealand – 2022); three games for Maori All Stars (2019-20, 2024); Junior Kiwis (2016) |
| Premierships | One (Storm - 2020) |
| Grand Finals | Two (Storm – 2018, 2020) |
| Achievements | World Club Challenge champions (Storm – 2018); two Minor Premierships (Storm – 2019, 2021) |
| Awards | Dally M Hooker of the Year (2021); Dally M Interchange Player of the Year (2019); Preston Campbell Medallist (2020); Storm’s Forward of the Year (2020-21); Storm’s Billy Slater Rookie of the Year (2018); NYC Team of the Year – Hooker (2016) |
