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Bennett defends Smith, says police saga is 'trivial'
Scott Bailey, AAP • September 4th, 2025 5:27 pm
Souths hooker Brandon Smith has received strong backing from his coach amid a police investigation | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Wayne Bennett has labelled the Brandon Smith saga as "trivial", claiming the South Sydney hooker is only facing police charges because of his high profile.
Smith will play for the first time since being hit with drug supply and betting charges last week, when he faces his old club the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.
The Kiwi hooker is accused by the Queensland Police Service of one count of supplying dangerous drugs, and another of disclosing inside knowledge for betting.
Bennett has been staunch in his support of the 29-year-old, refusing to stand him down from playing before the NRL also cleared him to take to the field.
Brandon Smith prepares to take on the Titans, one of his four NRL games so far in Bunnies colours | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Asked why he had been so strong in his support of Smith, Bennett was unequivocal in his first press conference since the charges became public.
"Because in my opinion it's pretty trivial what is going on with it," Bennett said.
"He's a high-profile person and they're using that profile to get a message out to a lot of people about whatever."
Bennett, who himself is a former Queensland police officer, then compared Smith's situation to the jailing of former Kiwi front-rower Russell Packer.
Wayne Bennett overseas a Rabbitohs training session in Sydney | Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP
Packer served one year in prison for punching a man and stomping on his head in a late-night incident in Sydney in 2013.
"It happened three or four years ago with Packer when they sent him to jail for 12 months," Bennett said, claiming Smith was being used to set a similar example.
"I don't think anyone ever thought that would happen. They had an issue in Sydney at the time with king hits and so on, so it is what it is."
The Roosters have also become entangled in the affair, with Victor Radley's name reportedly on the summons sheet after he was in Queensland at the time of Smith's drug-supply allegation.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Radley, and Smith's lawyers have indicated they will fight the charge when it goes to court on September 18.
More immediately though, Souths can finish their brutal season on a bright note by beating the Tricolours and plunging their arch-rivals' finals hopes into doubt.
Cameron Murray will play for Souths in the final-round clash, coming off the bench for his first game of the year after suffering a ruptured achilles in pre-season.
The 27-year-old has ruled himself out of Kangaroos contention for the Ashes, but Bennett insisted there was no risk in bringing him back for round 27.
"I wouldn't be taking him out there if he wasn't confident and he wouldn't be going out there if he wasn't confident," Bennett said.
"The soft option for him was not to play, but he feels he owes the club so much and he wants to, even if it's only for one game."
Latrell Mitchell won't play due to a neck injury, but Souths are confident he can avoid minor surgery and be fit to play on the Ashes tour.
