Brandon Smith, a player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, has been cleared of any wrongdoing by Queensland Police after being questioned during an investigation linked to drug supply. The incident occurred at Gold Coast Airport ahead of the Rabbitohs’ match against the Titans on Saturday. The police confirmed that the questioning was “opportunistic,” focusing on an individual connected to the case rather than on Smith himself.
In 2014, Smith faced legal issues when he was charged with supplying and possessing dangerous drugs during his early career at the North Queensland Cowboys. He pleaded guilty after being found in possession of MDMA on Magnetic Island and received a fine of $3,000 in 2016, though no convictions were recorded.
Queensland Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy addressed the situation, emphasising that Smith cooperated during the questioning and highlighting that there was no implication of wrongdoing on the player’s part. “No, that’s right,” Chelepy affirmed when asked if there were any insinuations against Smith.
The Rabbitohs informed the NRL’s integrity unit regarding the police interaction with Smith. Following this incident, Smith participated in a match where he played 58 minutes off the bench, contributing to the Rabbitohs’ narrow 20-18 victory over the Titans.
Chelepy noted that their discussion with Smith was comprehensive and ultimately allowed him to continue with his sporting commitments. Smith recently transitioned from the Sydney Roosters to the Rabbitohs in May, and the ongoing police matter currently does not seem to affect his professional career.