NZ Kiwis hooker Brandon Smith has been announced as a Sydney Roosters signing, joining the club from 2023 onwards on a three-year deal.
Smith, 25, will play out the 2022 season with Melbourne Storm, before switching to the Roosters when his current contract expires.
On Friday, the Roosters confirmed Smith's arrival, bringing to an end a saga that saw the Storm last month announce the Kiwis rake wouldn't return to the club for 2023.
"We're excited to announce the signing of Brandon to a three-year arrangement and look forward to welcoming him to the club in 2023," Roosters head of recruitment Daniel Anderson says.
Smith's exit from the Storm has been a messy one. In November, Smith signalled his intent to leave Melbourne on the YKTR Sports Podcast, angering officials at the Storm and considering terminating his contract one year early.
That same interview also left Smith in hot water with NRL officials, coming under investigation from the NRL's integrity unit after uttering countless swear words during the hour-long podcast.
Smith debuted for the Storm in 2017, and won the 2020 NRL premiership with the Melbourne club.
