Monday Buzz: Victor Radley’s sin bin record continues to cost the Sydney Roosters
Victor Radley is amassing an unwanted discipline record - but he’s not No.1 when it comes to sin-binnings in the NRL era. PHIL ROTHFIELD exposes the worst of the worst.
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The Sydney Roosters have never won a game of rugby league in which Victor Radley has spent time in the sin bin.
It shows how costly it has become whenever the punishing lock forward steps out of line and leaves his side short on defence in the middle.
Radley was sin-binned for the seventh time in his career against the Melbourne Storm, who capitalised with two quick tries to Nick Meaney and Cameron Munster to take a stranglehold on last Thursday’s game.
Latrell Mitchell is the most sin-binned player in NRL history with eight, followed by Radley, Jason Stevens and Billy Slater on seven.
Radley has the best ‘strike rate’ of the top four – he’s played 101 games, behind Mitchell (150), Slater (319) and Stevens (231).
On two occasions, Radley has been sent to the bin twice in a game.
“He knows how costly it is,” coach Trent Robinson said.
In fairness, the incident with Cameron Munster in their 28-8 loss to the Storm was hardly in the serious foul play category.
It was careless and stupid. He was charged and fined $3000.
Radley has worked hard on his discipline in the off-season but needs to control the aggression more.
A disappointing performance against Melbourne has again highlighted the Roosters’ struggles against the better sides in the NRL.
The statistics are alarming for Roosters supporters.
Since 2020, they have won just four of 21 games against Penrith, Melbourne and South Sydney.
That’s zero from six against the Panthers, one from seven against Storm and three from eight against the Rabbitohs — an ordinary strike rate for a team considered such a serious premiership contender.
They have to play the Panthers in rounds 11 and 15.
And they will need Radley on the park for 80 minutes.
The positive for the Roosters is the comeback next weekend of Kangaroos forward Angus Crichton in his first appearance since the World Cup final in mid-November.
Crichton will be chosen in the Roosters’ NSW Cup team to play Newtown at Henson Park this Saturday afternoon.
The edge forward, who has been undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder, was given the all-clear after visiting his doctor last week.
The Roosters have made it clear there is absolutely no pressure on Crichton to be rushed back into the NRL side.
His fitness and general health will closely be monitored.
“He’s been really good since he came back (two weeks ago),” Robinson said.
“Angus has always been one of the fittest and strongest guys.
“He missed pre-season but he’s kept training (on his own). Physically he’s ready to go.
“It’s now about getting him some footy. You can’t replicate that at training.
“He’s not a reserve grader but it’s a good way to bring him back.
“I’d like to see him being ready in a couple of weeks. That’s the plan.”
A fit and healthy Crichton will obviously add to their strike power on the edges. At the earliest, he’ll be back in round 9 against the Warriors in New Zealand.
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Originally published as Monday Buzz: Victor Radley’s sin bin record continues to cost the Sydney Roosters
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