The Storm taught him how to be a footy player, but Brandon Smith is looking forward to becoming a man at the Roosters as he vows to move on from “childish behaviour” to develop into the role model he wants to be.
Smith developed the persona of the “Hectic Cheese” at the Storm thanks to his robust playing style coupled with his larger than life personality off the field, which included hilarious interviews, social media shenanigans and pulling pranks.
He became a larrikin in Melbourne where he could get away with anything because most people didn’t recognise him, but that won’t be the case in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where celebrities are spotted from a mile away.
Smith has already found out he has a much bigger profile in Sydney, and while Roosters coach Trent Robinson didn’t need to warn him about that, the pair did discuss how he was ready to evolve as a person.
“When I was talking to Robbo before I signed, he kind of alluded to that and he pretty much told me that they were going to turn me into a man over here. I’m looking forward to that,” he said.
“You would have seen throughout my career that there’s been a little bit of childish behaviour. Stuff like that probably shouldn’t be done by a person that’s a role model to kids. For him to say that, it felt good.
“He said that I’m already a footy player. Melbourne made sure they taught me how to be a footy player, but I guess now Robbo wants me to be able to look after myself and the media and in front of kids and my family so I can make them proud.
“If you’re living well off the field then it usually shows on the field. Becoming that Roosters player is going to be a journey, but I’m all up for it.”
Smith has done well to avoid some of the lavish joints in the east which can often put players in compromising positions, and his early dealings with Roosters fans have been nothing but positive.
“When you come out here, it’s funny because some of the people in the east are a lot richer than you, so they just look at you and say ‘it’s that rugby player over there’ and they move on and ignore you,” he laughed.
“There aren’t many annoying people, so I’m enjoying it. A lot of the Roosters fans are quite supportive and it’s good to see them and have a chat with them. They all know someone who knows someone so it’s always good.”
The New Zealand international says he’s keen to develop off the field but said, “We won’t lose the Cheese. That’d be me losing myself.”
While the Cheese isn’t going anywhere, Smith revealed he’s yet to pull any of his customary pranks on Robinson after getting away with a few on Craig Bellamy at the Storm, including filling his former coach’s bag with rocks.
The nuggety dummy-half broke down the main differences between two of the greatest coaches of the modern era, warning fans that it will take a little while for him to truly adopt some of the intricacies which make the Roosters uniquely great.
“He’s a bit scarier in that aspect. I haven’t quite swindled my way into the capabilities of doing that,” Smith said of Robinson.
“It’s good to have a coach who doesn’t scream his tits off at you after a loss.
“They’re great coaches. Trent is probably more into the finer details, whereas Craig is about getting it done with effort. Trent is way more meticulous and level-headed.
“He’s a really smart guy. Everyone already has that experience of Trent, so to fully experience it now is awesome.”
Teammate Sam Walker said Smith was “hopeless” when it comes to anything not footy related, but praised the new recruit for settling in so well.
His move to Sydney has been made a lot easier given that he lives with his girlfriend, a mate and his younger brother in Bondi.
Jayden Smith is part of the junior system at the Roosters, and helping him realise his dream is one of the reasons Brandon wants to develop into a role model.
“He’s an 18-year-old, and as all 18-year-olds, he’s annoying as,” he said.
“He’s probably a little less annoying than I was when I was 18. I probably would have killed me if I was living with myself when I was 18.
“Now I’m trying to be a role model and I’ve got to tell him off for things I did exactly when I was his age. Hopefully he can carve his own path into the NRL, but there’s a long way to go.”
Discussion about this post