Alleged texts between Smith and Radley as ‘furious’ Roosters reaction revealed

Alleged text messages between Victor Radley and Brandon Smith which will form part of police evidence when the Rabbitohs hooker fronts court on drug charges this Thursday have been revealed.

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Smith is set to face Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast, where he is expected to plead not guilty to unlawfully supplying a dangerous drug and using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting.

Smith’s phone was taken by police on August 9 at Gold Coast Airport and Code Sports obtained the police statement of facts in Smith’s alleged drug supply case, which includes alleged messages between the former NRL teammates.

In them, Smith allegedly received a text message from Radley’s number asking for help in getting an “8 ball”, which police will allege refers to 3.5 grams of cocaine, during a golf weekend on the Sunshine Coast.

No charges have been laid against Radley, while there is no suggestion he obtained or took illegal drugs.

Smith was in Sydney at the time of the text exchange, however The Sydney Morning Herald reported that according to a court summons, police will allege Smith supplied Radley with a contact to source “a dangerous drug namely cocaine” on June 7.

“G tee up your cousin in sunny coast for me. Little short ball,” police allege Radley texted Smith on May 30.

“Short 8 ball if you will.”

“Yeah, sweet, bro,” Smith is alleged to have responded, before allegedly telling Radley he would give him a contact “when I get”.

“Yoza. Not until next week, no rush,” Radley allegedly replied.

On June 4, Radley is alleged to have contacted Smith again before departing for the golf trip.

Radley: Let us know lad

Smith: When yous going?

Radley: Tomoz morning

Smith: When do you want it?

Radley is then alleged to have replied on June 6: “Maybe Friday, G.”

Court documents then claim that Smith sent Radley the phone number of the alleged Queensland drug dealer.

“Just call him that’s xxxxx from Goldie number. He’s got people in sunny coast he said to call him and he will give you number,” Smith is alleged to have sent Radley, to which the Roosters forward allegedly replied “copy cheers lad”.

The following day, police will allege Radley called Smith for one minute at 7.35am before at 7.37am Smith allegedly tried to call the alleged drug dealer.

At 7.40am, police will allege Smith was able to put Radley in contact with the alleged dealer.

From that point, police will allege Radley started communicating with the alleged dealer, with the pair sharing the following alleged text messages.

Alleged dealer: “Sorry about all that massive mission. We are all coming down for the round 27 Roosters versus Rabbits (game).”

Radley: “All good bro, you sorted us good, man. Let me know if you need anything and I will sort it for you.”

Alleged dealer: “Let me know if you need anything and I will sort it for you.”

Speaking on NRL 360 on Wednesday night, senior rugby league journalist Andrew Webster said that behind the scenes Roosters supremo Nick Politis was “furious” when Radley was first dragged into the police probe involving Smith.

Webster also reported that from speaking to several people within the Roosters, Radley was “absolutely devastated” and “very emotional” when talking to those in the club about the allegations.

“We have to make it very clear Victor hasn’t been charged. There is no allegation of wrongdoing,” Webster said.

“But those alleged text messages are pretty damning and it raises questions for both the NRL and the Roosters about what’s going to happen down the track.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley, meanwhile, said the latest allegations had put the spotlight on the Roosters given Politis had previously declared his club had “zero tolerance” towards drug use.

“(There is) no proof that he (Radley) has done anything wrong. No claim that he has done any drugs or bought any drugs,” Crawley said.

“But the text message exchange is what people around the game are talking about. They are talking about the fact Nick Politis has previously said he has a zero tolerance policy and will get rid of anyone at the club who has been found to be involved with drugs.

“From an NRL perspective, there is no proof that anyone has taken or had drugs, so the question is does it bring the game into disrepute? Yes, it does, if it is proven (or) if anyone admits to anything.

“From the Roosters’ point of view is the bigger issue because it becomes the moral issue and the moral issue was outlined by Nick Politis earlier in the year.”

Smith is being represented by leading Sydney lawyer, Paul McGirr, who told Code Sports there is “no allegation” the Rabbitohs forward “had anything to do with the amount or weight of drugs nor was he involved in any cash exchange whatsoever, or any dealings with the actual drug dealer or any contact with the alleged drug runner”.

“I will not confirm or deny what is in a fact sheet, as it is only a narrative at this stage and is not actual evidence,” McGirr added.

“And it isn’t my place to be discussing any parties who may or may not be mentioned in that document, football players or not. I want to make it clear that my client was nowhere near the state of Queensland when these particular allegations took place.”

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, meanwhile, said in a statement: “As it is a live court matter, we will not be making public comment or take any action until the matter is concluded. We are monitoring the process. Once the matter has been concluded we will consider any potential breaches of NRL rules”.

Both the Roosters and Rabbitohs declined to make any comment.

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