Latest news with #Rabbitohs'
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Brandon Smith questioned by police over person linked to drug probe
South Sydney recruit Brandon Smith was questioned by police about a person known to him, a decade after he faced drugs charges as a teenager in north Queensland. Officers at Gold Coast Airport took the 29-year-old New Zealand international aside after landing at the airport on Saturday ahead of the Rabbitohs' match against the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday. According to sources with knowledge of the matter speaking on the condition of anonymity, Smith was questioned about an individual familiar to him in relation to a Queensland Police investigation into the supply of drugs. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on his part and he was released without charge. But this masthead can reveal that he previously pleaded guilty to drug offences while living in Townsville and was an emerging talent with the North Queensland Cowboys. According to court records, Smith was charged in 2014 with two counts of supplying and possessing dangerous drugs after being found with an amount of MDMA at Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island. He initially appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court before the case was committed to the District Court, where he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced in 2016 with a fine of $3000. No convictions were recorded.
The Age
5 days ago
- The Age
Brandon Smith questioned by police over person linked to drug probe
South Sydney recruit Brandon Smith was questioned by police about a person known to him, a decade after he faced drugs charges as a teenager in north Queensland. Officers at Gold Coast Airport took the 29-year-old New Zealand international aside after landing at the airport on Saturday ahead of the Rabbitohs' match against the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday. According to sources with knowledge of the matter speaking on the condition of anonymity, Smith was questioned about an individual familiar to him in relation to a Queensland Police investigation into the supply of drugs. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on his part and he was released without charge. But this masthead can reveal that he previously pleaded guilty to drug offences while living in Townsville and was an emerging talent with the North Queensland Cowboys. According to court records, Smith was charged in 2014 with two counts of supplying and possessing dangerous drugs after being found with an amount of MDMA at Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island. He initially appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court before the case was committed to the District Court, where he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced in 2016 with a fine of $3000. No convictions were recorded.
Courier-Mail
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
NRL 2025: Wayne Bennett tells Lewis Dodd he's free to leave the Rabbitohs, NRL 360, Braith Anasta, player transfers
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Braith Anasta has described the Rabbitohs' signing of Lewis Dodd as 'one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history' as reports emerged that coach Wayne Bennett had told the youngster he was free to leave the club. Bennett apparently had a meeting with the Englishman on Tuesday and told him he was free to look elsewhere in the NRL or overseas. Dodd has played just six NRL games in 2025, and just 68 minutes in the No. 7 jersey, despite signing a $2 million, three-year deal and a huge injury crisis at the club. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > Anasta, the host of NRL 360, gave a frank assessment of the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, who won a Super League title and a World Club Challenge title with St Helens. 'It's one of the great recruitment blunders in NRL history,' Anasta said on Wednesday night. 'I just can't get my head around how (CEO) Blake Solly, (football manager) Mark Ellison are the ones flying to England to sign a premier half for your club without the permission of a coach. Lewis Dodd's signing has been a disaster. NRL Photos 'I can't get my head around it.' Co-host Gorden Tallis believes the club would have run the signing of Dodd past coach Wayne Bennett. 'You would think (Bennett) would have been asked (about Dodd),' Tallis said. Anasta said Solly and Ellison needed to take responsibility for the decision to sign Dodd. 'The fact of the matter is 'Ello' and Blake have got their hands all over it, it's just whether Wayne knew or not,' Anasta added. 'Wayne might have had one fingerprint on it,' Tallis said. Anasta said he was always surprised by the Rabbitohs' decision to sign Dodd, given there were others playing in the Super League who seemed more suitable to join an NRL club. Is Souths' 'top 8 side' in spoon danger? Video Player is loading. Play Video This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Learn More X Loaded : 11.80% 0:00 Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. 01:16 SUBSCRIBER ONLY Is Souths' 'top 8 side' in spoon danger? avoid...... more more copping the wooden spoon. NRL: The NRL 360 panel discuss the shock that is the South Sydney Rabbitohs battling to ... more 'Everything I have heard out of the Super League, from coaches, players over there and even recruitment back here, is that there's four or five better candidates that could be better in our game over here, in the NRL,' Anasta said. 'I think there's just some accountability that needs to be taken there.' Tallis said he was 'shocked' the Rabbitohs are in last spot on the ladder, with Bennett rejoining the club this season. 'Probably shocked with the injuries, and I know Wayne, and normally Wayne Bennett coached sides compete really hard, they win against the odds, don't give up,' Tallis said. 'The way that they've sort of fallen apart, I think I am shocked, and if you went to every Souths fan, they wouldn't believe that they'd be in this position, no way.' Originally published as 'One of the greatest recruitment blunders': Blame game over who made $2m, 68-minute signing
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Albo defends Bunnies mascot over incident
Anthony Albanese has defended Rabbitohs mascot Charlie Gallico who is accused of pushing a nine-year-old fan, describing the long-time employee as a 'lovely fellow' and a 'very gentle person'. The altercation between the young Sharks fan Benji and 81-year-old Mr Gallico, who was in the Reggie the Rabbit costume, occurred during the Rabbitohs' bruising 27-12 defeat at the hands of the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday. Footage from the match shows the child running attempting to high five the mascot, however the boy is then allegedly pushed near his face. The South Sydney team has confirmed it is investigating the incident, and said the child's mother has been told of the probe. Speaking from Melbourne on Monday, the Prime Minister defended Mr Hallico, who he first met while serving on the NRL club's board of directors in the 90s. 'I don't want to talk about people's height but it's a fact that he's a very small man,' he said. 'He's 81 years old. He's been doing it for a long time, he would never try to hurt anyone. 'I'm sure if there has been inappropriate behaviour, he'd be the first to apologise but he's a lovely fellow.' The boy's mother Caroline Agius told her son had tried to 'get a high-five but was pushed away instead'. 'He was then told off by a security guard for getting too close or for touching him, from what Benji said,' Ms Agius said. 'Benji apparently touched the mascot and was told off by the security guard.' Ms Agius said she was in 'a bit of a shock' following the incident. 'It shouldn't happen, especially to a child from a grown man,' she said. 'It's not what you expect at all. You wouldn't expect that at a family friendly event at all.' Mr Albanese also referenced an incident in 2021 when Mr Gallico was pushed over during a Good Friday clash with the Bulldogs. 'From time to time, I know that he (as) the mascot has been pushed (and) whacked, because people don't realise that there's an 81-year-old fellow in there,' Mr Albanese said. 'I've seen nine-year-olds who are bigger than Charlie.' Mr Gallico, a former panelbeater and lifelong Rabbitohs fan, has donned on bunny suit since 2002, after the club re-entered the League after the team was cut from the competition.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Calls grow louder for Latrell Mitchell switch after Jye Gray stars in Souths' win over Dolphins
Wayne Bennett might have to find a new position for Latrell Mitchell if Jye Gray keeps playing the way he did on Friday night in the Rabbitohs' win over the Dolphins. Gray was involved in everything as Souths won 16-14 in Bennett's first game in charge of the Bunnies since 2021. Gray had a staggering 25 runs for 213 metres, laying on a try assist and breaking four tackles. He also had a line-break assist and played a hand in the Rabbitohs' match-winning try in the dying stages. With regular fullback Mitchell set to miss the first month of the season, Gray made the perfect case for why he should keep the No.1 role even when Latrell is back. Debate has been raging since last season about Mitchell's best position, with many of the belief he'd be better suited to playing in the centres. Mitchell doesn't get through as much work as Gray and can often be found out in defence. He'd slimmed down in the off-season and was being tipped to have a monster season under Bennett, but a hamstring injury has ruined all the fitness gains he made. It remains to be seen how Mitchell will return, but there's a genuine argument that Souths would be better off with Gray at fullback and Latrell in the centres. And a brutal injury setback for young winger Tyrone Munro might have made the decision easier. Munro scored two tries on Friday night, but suffered yet another collar bone injury. If he's forced to miss another extended period, Bennett could look to move Campbell Graham to the wing and have Mitchell play centre. It would certainly take some of the load of Mitchell's legs after hamstring, calf and foot injuries in the last two years. Jye Gray >>> Latrell Mitchell.#RabbitStew — AdaⓂ (@themary21) March 7, 2025 Jye Gray never ceases to amaze with his bravery and never say die attitude to seize his opportunity. Great to see Stretch Graham back, sorely missed last season, some terrific moments in a gritty win. — Robert Smith (@OnyaDon) March 7, 2025 Campbell Graham's comeback match tonight was amazing & inspirational! Jye Gray is a star player already. — Kurt (@KFlahavin) March 7, 2025 RELATED: NRL facing $13m double blow around Nathan Cleary and Kalyn Ponga Calls for NRL investigation after Reece Walsh caught in $828m 'disgrace' Speaking last month, former NRL player Joel Caine declared Mitchell isn't a fullback and should move to the centres - where he's thrived for NSW and Australia. Mitchell doesn't have the same work-rate as a Dylan Edwards or James Tedesco, but could still roam around the field if he's playing out wider. According to Caine, it's playing with fire making Mitchell play at the back and do so much extra running and grunt work. "I don't believe he's a fullback," Caine said about Mitchell on SEN radio. "In many degrees I think the same of Tommy Turbo (Trbojevic). These guys are such hard-wired athletes. Why do we need Tommy Turbo, Latrell Mitchell... catching the ball at the back of the field and trucking it up the end of the field? Why don't we put the Porsche's in the garage. Play them in the centres. We don't need them doing all that work and all those carries throughout the year and doubling the load. "Why do we have to obsess about putting the load on Latrell Mitchell chasing behind the line and covering his line? And the same with Turbo. Why can't we just name them in the centres and let's get Jack Wighton, let's get Reuben Garrick... the smaller bodies to be the tractors, get us out of our own half and then when we get in their half (let them do their thing). There's no rules that say if you play centre you have to be hedged to a certain side for the whole game." Jimmy Smith expressed similar sentiments last year after a game against the Cowboys in which Mitchell failed to fire. Smith said on SEN radio: 'Physically [Mitchell] is incapable of providing for that team what is required of your fullback. I mean (incapable) by connection to the line in defence, talking to people…where's the organisation of the defensive line? You see this at the ground just how far away, how disconnected, Latrell is from his defensive line. Then there's a lack of involvement, how much involvement? 14 carries for 70 metres. Get him to the centre position.'
