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Read Full BioNRL players Brandon Smith and Victor Radley could be sacked by their clubs after alleged text messages revealed that Smith supplied drugs to Radley. Messages also show the player revealed insider information about his playing status, which was used to place bets.
Smith is due in court on Thursday after being charged with unlawfully supplying a dangerous drug, as well as using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting.
Texts Show Smith Revealed Inside Information on Playing Status
In relation to the disclosing inside knowledge for betting charge, texts show exchanges between Smith and two friends where he revealed his playing status.
One of the friends is also reported to be a drug dealer whom Smith contacted to supply cocaine to Radley. First, Smith revealed his playing status to an unnamed friend:
Friend: You playing this weekend
Smith: Yep
Friend: First grade?
Smith: Yeah bro. Told me today. Starting too lol
Subsequent messages then show the friend backed Smith to score a try using the information:
Friend: 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: Can I get a confirmation you are run on? (starting)
Smith: I’m run on. 100 percent
Friend: (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
Smith then messaged his friend’s brother, who Fox News reports to be the man he contacted to supply drugs to Radley:
Smith to Drug Dealer: Bro I’m paying $91 for first try scorer
Drug Dealer: Back it?
Smith: I’m starting
Drug Dealer: I’ll back it
Smith: So it’s not a bad bet. Bra ask [Unnamed friend] to send you his bet. 8.5 anytime. And 91. Sports bet. Think it’s getting bobbed haha
Drug Dealer: I just went on lads got 51
The messages were exchanged on July 2 and 5. On July 6, Smith’s South Sydney Rabbitohs played against the Manly Warrington Sea Eagles.
Smith did not score the first or any try in the match, which meant the bets lost. He is also not accused of manipulating his performance for betting purposes, but giving the information about his playing status and encouraging his friends to place bets could land him in trouble.
Texts Also Reveal Smith Supplied ‘8 Ball’ to Radley
Other text messages that will be shown in court include Radley asking Smith to obtain cocaine for him on a trip to the Sunshine Coast in June.
Radley messaged, “G tee up your cousin in sunny coast for me. Little short ball. Short 8 ball if you will.” To which Smith replied, “Yeah sweet bro. I’ll give you the contact when I get it.”
Police allege that ‘8 ball’ is a reference to an ounce of cocaine and that Smith then contacted a dealer to supply the drugs to Radley. At that time, both players were with the Sydney Roosters, but Smith has since switched to the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Despite the charges, Smith and Radley both played for their clubs as they faced off on September 5. Radley’s Roosters beat Smith’s Rabbitohs 36-6.
Roosters Owner: ‘Zero Tolerance’ for Drug Use
Australia-born Radley has represented England nine times at the international level, but could be without a club given the revelations.
Sydney Roosters owner and chairman Nick Politis has previously stressed that the NRL club has a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding drugs.
“My view is if somebody’s caught doing cocaine or leaning over snorting something, we’re going to get rid of them,” Politis told reporters in January. “Our stance is zero tolerance. We are very strong on it. Trent (Robinson, head coach) is very strong on it.”
More will be revealed in court on Thursday. Smith is expected to plead not guilty to the charges.
