Roosters star Victor Radley sanctioned over alleged altercation

The NRL has handed down a punishment for Victor Radley after the rugby league star was investigated for an off-season incident.

Victor Radley was gutted to miss so much of last season.

The Roosters will be without Victor Radley for the opening two rounds of the 2021 premiership after the NRL sanctioned the forward following an incident in Byron Bay.

Foxsports.com.au reports the NRL has investigated an alleged altercation involving the tri-colours back-rower at a party in Byron Bay in December.

On Wednesday afternoon, the NRL revealed Radley would be given a two-week suspension and fined $20,000 for the altercation, in which he “tackled an individual in a street”.

The NRL said in a statement: “Radley breached the game’s code of conduct when he tackled an individual in a street. The penalty reflects both Radley’s conduct and failure to report the incident.

“In accepting the Breach Notice, Radley has apologised for his actions.

“Radley has also been required to report back to the Club and NRL following the completion of the education and training course.”

Radley missed most of last year with a serious knee injury after rupturing his ACL during a game against the Dragons.

The 22-year-old went down without any contact as he looked to make a tackle, and spent the rest of the season on the sidelines.

Writing a first person piece for the Roosters website last year, Radley reflected on the moment he knew something was badly wrong with his knee.

“I went down, it kind of hurt a little bit and I just knew that something was up,” he wrote.

“I haven’t had many injuries in my life, touch wood, but I turned over and thought, ‘Ah, I’ve done something here’.

“I knew straight away it was an ACL.

“My left knee was sweet, but my right knee was kind of moving a bit.

“I jumped up and starting walking off … and I just felt at one point my whole knee completely shifted when I put my weight to it.”

Victor Radley had a miserable 2020.

Radley played a vital role in the Roosters’ 2018 and 2019 premierships, and is tipped for representative honours later in his career.

He has been included in two NSW squads but has not yet made his Origin debut for the Blues. However, if he shows the type of form he had pre-injury, than an Origin jersey won’t be far away.

Radley is being kept on ice to start 2021 ahead of the season kicking off on Thursday night. The gun forward was left out of coach Trent Robinson’s squad — which included four reserves — for the Roosters’ Round 1 clash against Manly at the SCG on Saturday.