LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Brandon Smith, a star player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, has disclosed that he voluntarily entered a rehabilitation center during the NRL off-season, revealing his struggles with mental health and alcohol addiction.
During his appearance on the Bye Round Podcast hosted by James Graham, Smith explained that he made the decision to seek help privately after acknowledging the troubling trajectory his life had taken over the last three years.
The 29-year-old athlete spent four weeks in an undisclosed facility and noted that he is now 105 days sober, consistently participating in meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous.
"It was the best investment I've made in my life so far," Smith remarked.
"I'm doing everything I can to stay on the straight and narrow.
"The life I'm living now is so much better than the one I was living."
Smith emphasized that his decision to seek rehabilitation was independent of his football career and was solely motivated by a desire to enhance his life outside of sports.