Victor Derrick Radley (born 14 March 1998) is an England international rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. He won back-to-back NRL premierships with the Roosters in 2018 and 2019.

Victor “The Inflictor” Radley
Personal information
Full nameVictor Derrick Radley
Born (1998-03-14) 14 March 1998 (age 26)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight92 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Playing information
PositionLock, Hooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017– Sydney Roosters 121 16 0 0 64
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022–23 England 7 1 0 0 4
Source: [1]
As of 22 March 2024

Background edit

Radley was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and raised in Bronte. He is of English descent through his father Nigel.[2] Victor's middle name 'Derrick' is the name of one of his father's best friends from growing up. Victor was not aware of where his middle name came from, until his mother was asked by the Fox League team, Victor responding that he had no idea.[citation needed]

He played junior rugby union for the Clovelly Eagles and junior rugby league for the Clovelly Crocodiles[citation needed], before being signed by the Sydney Roosters.

Playing career edit

Early career edit

In 2016 and 2017, Radley played for the Sydney Roosters' NYC team.[3][4] In October 2016, he played in the Roosters' NYC Grand Final win over the Penrith Panthers.[5]

2017 edit

In May, Radley played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis,[6] before playing for the New South Wales under-20s team against the Queensland under-20s team later that month.[7]

In round 20 of the 2017 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Roosters against the Newcastle Knights.[8][9] In September, he was named on the interchange bench in the NYC Team of the Year.[10]

2018 edit

In Round 3 against the Newcastle Knights, Radley scored his first NRL career try in the 38–8 win at Sydney Football Stadium.[11] In round 9 against Manly, Radley earned the nickname "Victor the Inflictor" after he pulled off two try saving tackles on Martin Taupau and Dylan Walker as the Roosters held on to walk away with a 22–20 win at Sydney Football Stadium.[12] In August 2018, Radley explained that he would play international football for England if he was asked.[13]

In 2018, Radley made 25 appearances for Eastern Suburbs as the club won their fourth minor premiership in six seasons. On 30 September, Radley played in Easts 21–6 victory over Melbourne in the 2018 NRL Grand Final. In the post match interview, Radley was speaking with Andrew Johns who asked Radley what he had planned for the celebrations, Radley famously replied "Beers, beers and more beers, I cannot wait".[14][15]

2019 edit

In round 23, Radley played his 50th NRL game for the Sydney Roosters, scoring a try in their 34–12 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. Radley played in the club's 2019 NRL Grand Final victory over Canberra at ANZ Stadium.[16][17]

On 7 October, Radley was named at lock for the U23 Junior Australian side.[citation needed]

 
Radley playing for England in 2022

2020 edit

In round 7 of the 2020 NRL season, Radley was taken from the field with an ACL injury in the Sydney Roosters' 26–12 victory over St. George at Bankwest Stadium that later ruled him out for the rest of the year.[18]

2021 edit

On March 10, Radley was suspended for two matches and fined $20,000 by the NRL for an incident that happened in December 2020. Radley was alleged to have tackled a man at a house party in Byron Bay. In round 11 of the 2021 NRL season, Radley was sin-binned twice and placed on report a further two times in the Sydney Roosters' 34–16 loss against Brisbane.[19] Radley was later suspended for five games as a result of the tackles he produced against Brisbane, costing him a potential State of Origin debut.[20]

On 15 June, Radley was removed from a flight that was due to depart the Gold Coast for allegedly being intoxicated. The following day, Sydney Roosters head coach Trent Robinson spoke to the media and said “It’s not what we want from our players. Just don’t do it. Just act like a man in public and behave yourself. It’s pretty simple".[21][22]

On 16 August, Radley was suspended for two matches by the NRL after being placed on report during the Sydney Roosters victory over Brisbane in round 22 for dangerous contact.[23]

Radley played a total of 20 games for the Sydney Roosters in the 2021 NRL season, including the club's two finals matches. The Sydney Roosters would be eliminated from the second week of the finals losing to Manly 42–6.[24][25]

2022 edit

On 19 June, Radley was selected by New South Wales for the game two of the 2022 State of Origin series.[26] Radley took no part in the match as he was named in the preliminary squad. In the post-match celebrations following New South Wales' victory, Radley was caught on CCTV cameras in the dressing room mimicking a sex act on teammate Joseph Suaalii. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo issued Radley for an explanation over the incident.[27] In the elimination final against South Sydney, Radley was sin binned twice in the Sydney Roosters 30–14 loss that ended their season.[28]

In October he was named in the England squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[29] On 15 October, Radley made his England debut against Samoa in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup as England won the match 60-6.[30] Radley played in all five matches for England at the tournament as they reached the semi-finals before losing to Samoa 27–26. On 14 November 2022, the Rugby Football League placed Radley under investigation after he was alleged to have been involved in a fight with Leeds player James Bentley at England's team hotel.[31][32] In November he was named in the 2021 RLWC Team of the Tournament.[33]

2023 edit

In round 6 of the 2023 NRL season, Radley was sent to the sin bin and placed on report for an illegal tackle on Melbourne's Cameron Munster during the clubs 28–8 loss.[34] In round 8, Radley was sent to the sin bin for a third consecutive week during the Sydney Roosters 27–26 victory over St. George Illawarra in the ANZAC Day game.[35] Radley played 21 matches for the Sydney Roosters in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 7th on the table and qualified for the finals. Radley played in both of the clubs finals games as they were eliminated in the second week against Melbourne.[36]

References edit

  1. ^ "Victor Radley - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Victor Radley reveals he could choose England over New South Wales and Australia". Daily Telegraph. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  3. ^ "R". Nyc Database. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Holden Cup U20's NYC - 2017 Round 5". League Unlimited. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  5. ^ "2016 Holden Cup NYC Under 20's Teams". League Unlimited. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Junior Kangaroos team named". NRL.com. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  7. ^ "New South Wales Under-20s side announced". Zero Tackle. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Updated team lists: Roosters v Knights". NRL.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  9. ^ NRL Digital Media. "NRL Late Mail | Round 20". Roosters. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  10. ^ "2017 NYC Team of the Year - Zero Tackle". 4 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Roosters remind Knights what a premiership contender looks like". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Trent Robinson praises game-changing Victor Radley tackle". National Rugby League. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Dailytelegraph.com.au - Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  14. ^ "NRL grand final 2018: Storm vs Roosters live". NewsComAu. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Fans erupt over Roosters rookie's grand final interview". au.sports.Yahoo.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  16. ^ "NRL grand final player ratings: Roosters and Raiders hits and misses". SMH.
  17. ^ "Sydney Roosters beat Canberra Raiders to win NRL Grand Final". BBC.
  18. ^ "Sydney Roosters v St George score". wwos.nine.com.au.
  19. ^ "Broncos answer Kevvie's 'embarrassing' call, Walker's 'first real test': 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au.
  20. ^ "Whitehead guilty; Roosters duo among 12 suspended". www.nrl.com.
  21. ^ "'How hard is it to get on a flight?': Robinson slams Radley for drunken incident". www.smh.com.au.
  22. ^ "Victor Radley urged to give up alcohol after getting booted off flight". www.sportingnews.com.
  23. ^ "Round 22 charges: Radley, Matterson, Harawira-Naera among seven banned". www.nrl.com.
  24. ^ "'They don't rate us': How injury toll eased pressure for revitalised Roosters". www.nrl.com. 16 September 2021.
  25. ^ "Manly Sea Eagles hammer Sydney Roosters 42-6 to advance to NRL preliminary finals". ABC News. 17 September 2021.
  26. ^ "13-game veteran recalled, Eels pair pay the price: Blues Origin II Winners and Losers". www.foxsports.com.au.
  27. ^ "NRL issues Victor Radley with 'please explain' after crude gesture captured during Origin coverage". wwos.nine.com.au.
  28. ^ "SEVEN players binned in historic first after Roosters-Rabbitohs clash explodes". www.foxsports.com.au.
  29. ^ Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
  30. ^ "Rugby League World Cup: England 60-6 Samoa - Welsby, Young, Watkins, Farnworth score". www.bbc.co.uk.
  31. ^ "Leeds Rhinos ace James Bentley involved in alleged punch-up with England's Victor Radley". www.leeds-live.co.uk.
  32. ^ "Rugby League: Victor Radley and James Bentley investigated after alleged incident in Manchester". www.bbc.co.uk.
  33. ^ Samoan domination as unlikely halfback earns No.7 jersey: WC Team of the Tournament
  34. ^ "Melbourne Storm defeat Sydney Roosters 28-8 to leap into NRL top four". www.abc.net.au.
  35. ^ "Victor Radley learns fate after Rooster enforcer unloads over 's***' Anzac Day sin bin call". www.foxsports.com.au.
  36. ^ "NRL 2023: Sydney Roosters season review". www.sportingnews.com.

External links edit