Advertisement

Victor Radley's NRL vow ruined after 'totally unnecessary' act

The NRL star's pre-season pledge came undone in a moment of madness on Thursday night.

adam lucius
Contributor
·3-min read
Victor Radley was sin-binned in the Roosters' NRL loss to Melbourne after a senseless late hit on Cameron Munster. Pic: Getty/Ch9
Victor Radley was sin-binned in the Roosters' NRL loss to Melbourne after a senseless late hit on Cameron Munster. Pic: Getty/Ch9

Back before a ball was kicked in the 2023 season, Victor Radley talked about his desire to move on from some of the drama that's pockmarked his career. "I just want to be a good citizen and keep my nose clean – on the field and off it," he told Yahoo Sport Australia.

"If people are just talking about my footy then I will be happy. Six rounds into the NRL competition and it’s not Radley's footy making the headlines. Victor the Self-Inflictor is back.

'DON'T UNDERSTAND': Tigers star at centre of Anzac jersey furore

HUGE CALL: Jarryd Hayne could have Dally M medals taken away

BIG BACKFLIP: Payne Haas to become 'richest player in Broncos history'

Six times in three seasons Radley had been marched to the sin-bin, the latest visit costing the Roosters big time in their 28-8 loss to Melbourne on Thursday night. The Tricolours were leading 8-6 when Radley unnecessarily barrelled Storm playmaker Cameron Smith with a late cheap shot to the ribs.

When he returned, the Chooks were behind 18-8 and never really looked like getting back in the contest, failing to score a point in the last 60 minutes. "The game took on a different complexion after the Victor Radley shot…it was late and he (Munster) was unaware," Fox League commentator Greg Alexander said.

"You can't hit a player when he’s not looking. Even though there wasn’t a great deal of force in the shot, it was late enough to send him to the bin.

"It was totally unnecessary and put his team under pressure, the Melbourne Storm ran in two tries while he was off the field."

Trent Robinson calls on Victor Radley to 'fix' brain snaps

Roosters coach Trent Robinson admitted he was "frustrated" by the sin-binning but appears caught between giving Radley too much rope and too little.

"Look, you can’t do that. If that happened to Kez (Luke Keary) I’d be really frustrated," Robinson said. It wasn’t necessary and it wasn’t the end of the world at the same time.

Roosters NRL star Victor Radley has vowed to try and cut out the silly penalties from his game. Pic: Getty
Roosters NRL star Victor Radley has vowed to try and cut out the silly penalties from his game. Pic: Getty

"I want him (Radley) to fix it but not dwell on it. He’s made some really good progressions this year so he's not going to go back to zero on the stuff he’s got under control and the way that he’s played the game."

The Roosters were well beaten across the park by a Storm side now on a roll with three straight wins.

After losing two of their first three games, Craig Bellamy's men have regained their mojo ahead of next Friday's blockbuster against Manly at 4 Pines Park.