NRL star Brandon Smith faces drug supply and betting charges, Roosters star Victor Radley dragged inKimberley BraddishThe NightlyTue, 26 August 2025 7:01AM
A Sydney Roosters player has been caught up in a police investigation into serious allegations faced by South Sydney Rabbitohs player Brandon Smith.
Smith allegedly contacted a drug dealer to provide former Roosters teammate Victor Radley with an illicit substance, according to the Sydney Morning Herald citing sources close to the investigation.
Smith was charged on Monday with dangerous drug supply and using inside information for betting.
He was in Sydney on June 7 and contracted to the South Sydney Rabbitohs when the incident allegedly occurred. He is accused of attempting to acquire drugs for his former teammate who was on the Sunshine Coast with fellow Roosters players during a bye round.
At least seven Roosters players had travelled to the Sunshine Coast for a golf weekend at the time, according to the SMH.
Queensland Police allege Smith unlawfully supplied a dangerous drug (cocaine) to Radley on June 7 while Radley was in Currimundi.
There is no suggestion Radley engaged in any wrongdoing.
Roosters officials acknowledged on Monday night that they are taking the matter seriously but declined to comment further until all relevant parties had been consulted.
Under Queensland’s Drugs Misuse Act: “A person who unlawfully supplies a dangerous drug to another, whether or not such other person is in Queensland, is guilty of a crime”.
Earlier this year, Roosters chairman Nick Politis outlined a zero-tolerance stance on drug use at the club.
“My view is if somebody’s caught doing cocaine or leaning over snorting something, we’re going to get rid of them,” Politis told The Sunday Telegraph. “Our stance is zero tolerance. We are very strong on it. Trent (Robinson) is very strong on it.”
Smith was issued a bench warrant last Wednesday to appear at Southport Magistrates Court on September 18, where he will face charges of disclosing “inside knowledge” for illegal betting and supplying dangerous drugs.
Although Smith played for the Rabbitohs in their 40-0 win over the Dragons last Thursday, it is understood he only became aware of the bench warrant on Monday.
Sources told the SMH that Taskforce Maxima investigators, targeting serious organised crime in Queensland, found Smith’s name while examining a suspect’s phone.
They discovered information that forms the basis of charges alleging Smith ordered drugs for friends and provided team information allegedly used by a dealer for betting.
The allegations include Smith sharing inside information about the starting team and his potential return from injury in round 18.
South Sydney confirmed Smith would not be stood down for their final game of the season against the Roosters.
The NRL integrity unit is aware of the allegations and is working closely with Queensland Police and South Sydney.
However, sources said the NRL was caught off guard when news broke of the charges on Monday.
Smith was questioned by police before a game on the Gold Coast earlier this month but was released without charge.
“A 29-year-old man has been issued with a summons… for supplying dangerous drugs and using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting,” a police spokesman said.
The charges Smith faces are under the threshold that would trigger the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy, which applies to offences carrying maximum jail terms of 11 years or more.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo retains the discretion to rule a player out of action.
The league has yet to decide on Smith’s availability while the integrity unit investigates further.
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