NRL waiting for more information on Victor Radley, James Bentley Rugby League World Cup clash
It remains unclear over whether or not Victor Radley should be sanctioned for his alleged World Cup stink, as an NRL integrity unit investigation remains ongoing.
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The NRL integrity unit is awaiting a response from England’s governing body for more information into Victor Radley’s alleged World Cup stink with Ireland player James Bentley as it looks to make a final call on whether the Roosters star will be sanctioned.
It is understood the NRL integrity unit again made contact with England’s governing body as recently as Wednesday seeking an update as to the progress of its inquiries.
Any ban has the potential to rub Radley out of the Sydney Roosters’ first round Beetson Cup blockbuster against NRL new boys the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, March 5.
But with claims there is no police report or official complaint to act on, the longer the investigation drags on the less likely it appears any action will be taken.
More than two weeks have now passed since the alleged altercation occurred.
The International Rugby League also stated at the time the matter was no longer under their jurisdiction given England had completed their World Cup commitments at that point.
It was then put in the hands of the England’s Rugby Football League, although its chief executive Ralph Rimmer reportedly ducked the issue when quizzed at the Golden Boot awards.
It is also understood the Roosters are not upset by Radley’s actions given he was not the instigator.
In fact, it was claimed Radley was only sticking up for England coach Shaun Wane after things got out of hand during some post tournament drinks in Manchester.
Radley was accused of lashing out at the Ireland forward but only after claims Bentley head butted him.
While there had been various versions of exactly what happened, it was consistently stated Radley did not start the trouble and Bentley was the aggressor.
There were also suggestions Bentley had reached out to apologise to Radley.
The feeling among some senior figures at NRL club level is divided about whether Radley should be sanctioned even if the claims are proven.
One school of thought is that the allegations don’t warrant any punishment given Radley didn’t start the trouble and was only defending himself and his coach.
The counter argument is that regardless of if he was the instigator, if similar claims were proven during the course of an NRL season it more than likely would result in a sanction of some sort.
A case in point was when Broncos prop Payne Haas copped a one match ban this year for his part in a very minor scuffle with teammate Albert Kelly after video the video emerged of the incident.
Haas was also hit with a $10,000 fine, while Kelly was fined $5000.
Radley was also previously handed a two-game suspension and fined $20,000 after tackling a man outside an Airbnb last December.
It was also claimed in that instance Radley was not the instigator but got involved after a man allegedly would not leave the premises, and then became abusive towards a female on the property.
The NRL claimed on that occasion Radley breached the game’s code of conduct by tackling the man.
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