NRL 2022: Garry Schofield fuming over Victor Radley’s World Cup selection by England
Victor Radley turned his back on NSW and Australia to represent England at the Rugby League World Cup, but one English great says it happened for all the wrong reasons.
NRL
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English legend Garry Schofield has questioned the selection of Victor Radley in the country’s World Cup squad, accusing coach Shaun Wane of going back on his word by including the Sydney Roosters star.
Radley was a key pick-up for England after making the emotional decision to switch allegiance to the country of his father’s birth. It was a decision that ended any chance he ever had of playing for Australia.
However, the selection hasn’t gone down well with everyone.
Schofield, one of the greatest players in English history and a member of the Wests Tigers’ Hall of Fame after a series of stints in Sydney with Balmain, somewhat harshly claimed that Radley had chosen England because he wasn’t going to get a start for Australia,
“I wouldn’t have any Kiwis or Aussies anywhere near my dressing room,” Schofield said.
“Waney has gone back on his word. Radley was never near getting picked for Australia, that’s why he’s gone for England.”
Radley was well and truly in contention for the Australian side, although his chances slipped when he was only included in an extended NSW squad for the State of Origin series.
His NSW and Kangaroos hopes ended when he elected to pledge his allegiance to England. It was a decision that came at a significant financial cost - Origin players are set to earn upwards of $30,000 a game from next season.
That wasn’t enough to impress Schofield. He also turned on the English side, suggesting they have a mountain to climb if they are to challenge for the World Cup.
Their tournament starts against a formidable Samoan side on Saturday night (AEDT), the challengers strengthened by the addition of a handful of players who opted to turn their back on Australia to represent the island nation.
“It’s going to be a very, very tough World Cup for England,” he told Everything Rugby League.
“There’s not just three sides anymore than can win the World Cup. There’s Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, as well as New Zealand and Australia, and PNG on their day can beat anyone. It’s going to be a very, very competitive World Cup.
“It all depends on the first game for England. If we lose that the pressure will be on. I don’t think England will get to the final. If we get to the semi-finals we’ll have done alright. We’re missing our best players through injury.
GOULD FIRES UP OVER BULLDOGS-LAURIE LINK
The Wests Tigers thought they were facing a fight to keep Daine Laurie at the club after they were told that the Bulldogs were interested in the fullback.
It turns out they were being spun a line. After Confidential reported on the Bulldogs’ purported interest in Laurie, Canterbury head of football Phil Gould took to social media to slam the claims.
Gould sent this column a text saying Laurie had never been discussed and links to the Tigers No.1 were rubbish. He even suggested we owed the Tigers and Bulldogs an apology.
So here goes. Sorry guys. Won’t make that mistake again. Anyway, Gould’s proclamation is good news for the Tigers, who have tabled a one-year extension to Laurie in the hope of extending his stay at the club.
Laurie and his manager want a longer-term deal but they won’t be able to use the Bulldogs as leverage even though Gould admitted he loved Laurie.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, continue to be linked with a big-money play for Penrith centre Stephen Crichton to play fullback as the Panthers juggle their finances in a bid to keep Crichton, Brian To’o and Liam Martin.
They may be forced to sacrifice Crichton to keep the other two, although they would do so reluctantly. It may hinge on what direction the Bulldogs take with the fullback position.
The club has been unable to nail down a player to fill the No.1 jersey. Matt Dufty, Corey Allen and Jake Averillo have all had a shot without making it their own.
Laurie also loomed as an option given the status of his talks with the Tigers, who are in the market for a handful of players as they look to ensure Tim Sheens, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah have the artillery to climb the ladder next year.
LEAKED DOCUMENTS REVEAL SHOCK WORLD CUP CONCUSSION RULE
Concussed players during the World Cup will be stood down for up to 11 days meaning they will miss at least one match as part of stringent concussion protocols.
Sport Confidential has obtained the tournament’s concussion policy which states players must be stood-down for 11 days unless they receive medical clearance which could fast-track their return. Even with a medical clearance they will still miss seven days.
It will become the most watched about situation throughout the tournament.
Any player that has been concussed this year will be automatically sidelined for 11 days.
“Due to the unique nature of players being able to play in a World Cup, RLWC (Rugby League World Cup) will allow, in exceptional circumstances, a player to return to play following concussion in a minimum of 7 days, rather than the standard 11 days,” the document read. “This will be granted only if the medical team caring for the patient believes they have made a complete recovery and certain criteria are met.”
The criteria includes:
• No previous concussions in 12 months
• No category 1 features
• No history of complex / multiple concussions in career.
• Asymptomatic the day following concussion
• A concussion-specialist review, stating they are happy for the player to return to play at seven days
• A letter from the team doctor, stating their clinical reasoning behind allowing the player to return to play in seven days
• A consent form from the player, detailing they have read and understood both the specialists and team doctors’ letter, are aware of the risks, and are happy to return to play at seven days.
Even with the special dispensation players will be sidelined for one week – meaning any concussions sustained in a game would see players most likely miss their next match.
The Kangaroos have six days between their first and second match and eight days before their final pool game.
Other nations will not be as fortunate. Tonga has a six day turnaround between their first two games while New Zealand has just five.
When teams are scheduled to play in the finals will also have significant repercussions with the second semi-final taking place seven days before the final.
During Super League, concussed players are automatically stood down for 11 days.
The 18th man policy is the same as in the NRL. Nations are able to activate their fifth reserve when three players have been ruled out of a match because of concussion. There will be “concussion spotters” in the crowd for matches.
FLASHBACK
Boyd Cordner was anointed Australian captain on this day five years ago. Cornder led the Kangaroos in a warm-up World Cup match in Fiji with Cameron Smith rested. Cordner would eventually go on to lead Australia when Smith retired. Cordner’s replacement James Tedesco gets his first crack at skippering Australia on Sunday.
INSIDE KNIGHTS’ COACHING REVAMP
Four-time English Super League winner Brian McDermott will join the Knights next season as part of Adam O’Brien’s revamped coaching staff.
Newcastle will add the experienced mentor to their coaching set up after assistant coach Willie Peters left to take up the head coaching position at Hull KR. McDermott will add some experience to the Knights staff.
The 52-year-old led Leeds to multiple Super League championships and McDermott also guided Toronto Wolfpack into the Super League.
He spent this year coaching Featherstone Rovers in the second-tier competition. The ex-Bradford prop almost joined the NRL ahead of the 2021 season after being sounded out by former Sharks coach John Morris to be his assistant.
Covid-19 complications put an end to that. McDermott is in England assisting the Fijian team at the World Cup.
SKIPPERS HEADLINE EVEREST CREW
Three national captains will headline the TAB marquee at the Everest on Saturday. Laurie Daley (rugby league), Catherine Cox (netball) and Michael Clarke (cricket) will be part of the start-studded crew at the biggest race day in NSW. Channel 9 rugby league personality Danika Mason will also be on hand.
Those that were impressed by the drone use for the Everest draw this week can expect it to be part of NRL entertainment next season. The NRL used a drone display briefly during the grand final.
BALANCING ACT
Dolphins-bound teenager Isaiya Katoa is learning on the run - literally. The teenage Tongan sensation is combining his World Cup duties with studying for his HSC.
Confidential understands Katoa took an English test on Thursday while in camp with Mate Ma’a and is committed to finishing his studies despite the promise of a rugby league career that could reap him millions in coming years.
The 18-year-old is one of the key reasons for optimism at the Dolphins and he could yet be the answer for a Tongan side that boasts a formidable forward pack, but has struggled to nail down a competitive set of halves.
Katoa has shown his commitment to the cause already. He had the chance to tour with the Australian schoolboys but knocked it back to make sure he was with the Tongan side when they arrived in England.
He impressed in their trial game and there is every chance the 18-year-old will be in the Tongan squad when they open their World Cup campaign against Papua New Guinea next week.
EELS’ STUNNING GENEROSITY
Parramatta NRLW star Kennedy Cherrington made a whirlwind visit to Western Australia to donate part of her $10,000 prize for winning the NRL’s Veronica White Medal.
Cherrington was honoured with the prize in recognition for her community service just moments after losing in the NRLW grand final to Newcastle.
Instead of pocketing any of the prize money she decided to split it three ways - shared equally among the charity Heart Kids, her junior club Rockingham Sharks in Perth and to NRL Western Australia.
She flew to Perth to donate the prize ahead of flying out with the Jillaroos for their World Cup tilt next week.
Cherrington has congenital heart disease and had her first surgery at eight.
“One in 30 kids every day are born with a defect,” Cherrington said. “It is about bringing awareness.
“I got told I could’ve died at any time in that period as a children. I’ve used it as motivation and determination.”
TINO CONSIDERS FUTURE REP SWITCH
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was in the middle of an international tug of war but the Titans skipper said his choice was easy although he has not ruled out representing Samoa in the future.
Fa’asuamaleaui is eligible for the Kangaroos and Samoa but elected to represent Australia.
“I sat down and spoke with my parents and they said to play for Australia,” Fa’asuamaleaui said. “Growing up in Australia I always thought playing for them was the pinnacle of the game.”
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga was also an influential figure aside from Fa’asuamaleaui’s parents.
“I spoke with Mal,” Fa’asuamaleaui said. “I asked what his thoughts were. I look up to him so much.”
Fa’asuamaleaui will make his Test debut when the Kangaroos kickstart their World Cup campaign against Fiji on Sunday.
While he wants to impress in the green and gold he has not ruled out playing for Samoa in future tournaments.
“You look at someone like Josh Papalii who has done everything in the game and he has gone back at played for Samoa,” Fa’asuamaleaui said.
“I’ve never been to the UK before so it is exciting. There are times where I am going to miss my daughters back home but that motivates me to make sure it is worth it and get the win.”
Originally published as NRL 2022: Garry Schofield fuming over Victor Radley’s World Cup selection by England
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