The stench of rotten cheese lingers at South Sydney headquarters after new recruit Brandon Smith earned yet another nomination for The Frownlow Medal.
Smith is affectionately known as ‘cheese’ in the NRL world and was recently accused of drug supply and betting offences.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes: the men’s and women’s National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL star Ezra Mam is the most recent recipient.
The mischievous hooker was issued with a summons by Queensland Police on August 20 for allegedly supplying dangerous drugs and using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting.
Smith’s lawyer claims his client is not accused of supplying the drugs physically to another person. This makes sense, as Smith’s previous Frownlow nomination suggests he prefers to take the drugs himself. In 2021, he was caught on camera partying with quantities of white powder at the end of the NRL season. He also earned a nomination in 2024, and in 2022 for lying to police about a witness statement he signed in regards to accusations of domestic violence against former Melbourne Storm teammate Curtis Scott.
Police allege the New Zealand international unlawfully supplied a dangerous drug to another person on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in June 2025, but Smith’s lawyer argued that Smith was in Sydney at the time. It is understood another NRL player has been mentioned in the police summons.
The lawyer also argues that the summons does not at this stage provide details of the betting actions Smith is alleged to have taken.
By the time the ‘cheese’ appears in court, what colour will it be?
Image: Getty Images
The Frownlow Medal 