The Sydney Roosters have landed a huge coup by securing the services of State of Origin hooker Reece Robson in the surest sign yet that Brandon Smith could be on the way out.
The North Queensland Cowboys confirmed Robson’s impending exit on Friday afternoon, revealing that the hooker would be leaving the club at the end of the 2025 season, with the Roosters announcing shortly after that they had signed Robson on a four-year deal.
Cowboys general manager of football Micheal Luck said the club had tabled its “best possible offer” but “were not able to compete with the final offer” Robson received from the Roosters.
“Reece now has a young family and we respect his decision,” added Luck.
“He will continue to be an important member of our squad for 2025 and we look forward to his contributions in his final season at the club.”
Smith, meanwhile, is off contract at the end of next season and has widely been linked to a move away from the Tricolours after the 2026 season.
Speaking on James Graham’s The Bye Round podcast last month, Smith opened up on his current contract situation.
“My manager told me when do you want me to talk to other clubs and I just said I am not really in a rush at the moment,” Smith said.
“Usually you sign a contract for security … in case pre-season you get injured or something happens like that. With me, I am already injured.
“I don’t have a risk of being reinjured. So I just told them to wait it out, don’t talk to anyone yet and I want to go back to training and get my knee right.”
