NRL 2023: Why Victor Radley was spared wrath of Trent Robinson after Manchester pub incident

Sydney Roosters enforcer Victor Radley has spoken out about his UK pub altercation, and revealed how coach Trent Robinson reacted to off-field incident.

Dynamic duo: Victory Radley and Brandon Smith. NRL Imagery

Sydney Roosters star Victor Radley has revealed Trent Robinson ‘wasn’t angry’ at him over an altercation at a Manchester pub because he did ‘the right thing’ by sticking up for a mate.

Robinson hasn’t shied away from taking Radley to task in the past over other off-field incidents, even telling the 24-year-old he needed to ‘act like a man’ after he was refused entry on a flight for being intoxicated.

This time, Robinson wasn’t as scathing when Radley picked up the phone to tell the coach about the incident last November at the World Cup, where he represented England.

There were claims Radley headbutted Ireland international James Bentley, while defending English coach Shaun Wane.

“When it happened, I rang the people that I needed to and once I spoke to them I was good as gold,” Radley told The Daily Telegraph.

“He (Robinson) wasn’t angry or what not.

“Robbo is someone you can turn to, he’s good with his advice. His advice has always been you stick up for yourself, you stick up for your mates at the same time.

Victor Radley was spared Trent Robinson’s wrath over the Manchester pub incident. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“It’s the same as him, and my parents, ever since I was young it has been, you stand up for yourself and you stand up for someone that needs you stand up for them.

“But he did want me to have a look at the situation and think about how I could avoid it, and I did that.

“And we spoke about how not to end up in that situation.”

Radley was reluctant to go into the exact details of the incident.

In December, Rugby Football League exonerated the lock forward of any wrongdoing and accepted Radley was defending himself against Bentley.

While Radley will be going out of his way to stay out of the headlines, the 24-year old said he would feel comfortable standing up for anyone who needed it.

“I never want to get myself in those situations but sometimes you end up in a scrap and I need to make sure I am not in those situations. But I found myself in it,” Radley said.

Victor Radley playing for England in the World Cup. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

“After I spoke to the people I needed after it happened, I felt comfortable.

“I know I’m a good person and did the right thing.

“But I have looked back and assessed it, I didn’t want it to get to that point but it happened but I moved on from it pretty quickly.”

With his international debut for England in the bag, Radley is squarely focused on getting the Roosters’ 2023 campaign off to the best possible start against the Dolphins in Round 1.

Radley said the footy smarts of new hooker and former Melbourne star Brandon Smith will be a shot in the arm for the Bondi club’s push for premiership glory.

“He comes across as this chill guy, but that’s what even surprised me just how smart he is,” Radley said.

“You tell him something, he understands it and he goes and gets it down pretty quickly.

Radley was ‘surprised’ at Brandon Smith’s intelligence. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

“That was the biggest thing, he’s really intelligent.

“He puts on this facade of not caring, but that’s far from the truth. It has been really easy to work with him.

“He’s not shy either, especially around him and his position and what he wants from those around him.

“If he has something to stay, he’ll say it. When he wants something done, he’ll tell you what it is but he will also expect you to do it.

“He’s confident, firm and clear.”