Radley to make Cronk-like return for Roosters, three weeks after breaking shoulder

Victor Radley is poised to make an against-the-odds comeback three weeks after suffering a fractured scapula to play in the Roosters sudden-death semi-final against Manly.

Radley is set to be a late inclusion in Trent Robinson’s side on Saturday night with bench back-rower Siua Wong to make way for the Englishman’s inclusion.

The bruising back-rower is nursing a similar injury to what Cooper Cronk famously played through in the 2018 grand final.

Radley had initially been expected to undergo surgery after suffering the injury to his left shoulder blade against Canberra in round 26, the same day teammates Sam Walker and Brandon Smith went down with ruptured ACLs.

But Radley and the Roosters medical staff opted against an operation and have instead rehabilitated the injury with a shoulder specialist, who gave the go-ahead for him to step up his contact training earlier in the week.

“He’s right to go,” Robinson said. “He’s got one more thing to tick off this morning but he’ll be ready to go.

Cooper Cronk in a sling after the 2018 Grand Final win.Credit: James Brickwood

“It’s similar to [Cronk’s injury], but obviously Cooper required surgery and it was quite a significant separation of the bone and that there. Same spot but slightly different.”

Cronk produced one of rugby league’s most storied performances to play through the pain and act as an on-field general in the Roosters 2018 triumph over Melbourne, described by Robinson at the time as the “toughest thing I’ve seen from an individual”.

Privately, the Roosters do not consider Radley’s injury as serious as Cronk’s was. If they win through to face Melbourne in a preliminary final though, the question of whether Radley can keep being needled through the pain is a significant one.

Radley’s role as a right-edge back-rower this season also carries a heavy defensive workload that has him averaging 33 tackles per game.

It is unclear whether Robinson will start

the 26-year-old out wide in place of Sitili Tupouniua or bring Radley off the bench as veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also returns from suspension.

Manly’s Tom Trbojevic is battling through a grade 3 AC joint injury in his shoulder. He required painkilling injections before kickoff and at halftime last week against Canterbury and will be needled again before and during the Roosters clash.

Raiders star Josh Papalii allegedly involved in off-field incident

ACT police are investigating an incident allegedly involving star Canberra forward Josh Papalii at a licensed premises early on Monday morning.

2GB presenter Spiro Christopoulos reported on Thursday morning that Papalii was allegedly involved in an incident at the Raiders Gungahlin Club that attracted police attention. No charges have been laid.

“For privacy reasons we are not able to confirm names however about 3.10am on Monday, 16 September 2024, police responded to a request from a licenced premises regarding two men who were behaving aggressively, smashing glasses, and refusing to leave,” ACT Police said in a statement.

Canberra forward Josh Papalii.Credit: Getty

“After engagement with police, the men left, however a short time later, re-entered the premises.

“A third member of the group escorted the two men out of the premises again, and they departed the location a short time later.

“Enquiries in relation to this matter are continuing, however at this time no charges have been laid.”

The Raiders are aware of the incident.

“Josh and others were asked to leave a licenced premises in the early hours of Monday morning following attendance by ACT Police,” the club said in a statement.

“The club has informed the NRL integrity unit.”

Papalii’s wife Masepa made news earlier this season when she was issued a court attendance notice to face two charges of common assault for her alleged role in a brawl at a women’s rugby league match.

Masepa Papalii, who is scheduled to appear before the ACT Magistrates Court on October 10, has already been banned for 10 years from attending local matches after the Canberra Region Rugby League (CRRL) found she entered the field during a fiery clash between West Belconnen Warriors and the Bungendore Kangaroos in the Katrina Fanning Shield on July 14.

Her sister-in-law, Crystal Papalii, was initially hit with a 20-week suspension for becoming embroiled in the incident.

After pleading guilty and seeking a downgrade, Crystal Papalii was entitled to a 25 per cent reduction for no previous infringements and a further 25 per cent reduction for an early guilty plea, reducing her suspension to 10 games.

Masepa Papalii didn’t respond to the CRRL’s charges, meaning the CRRL and NSWRL will enforce her decade-long ban.

Trbojevic likely to miss representative period, require shoulder surgery

Tom Trbojevic is likely to miss the Pacific Championships and require shoulder surgery on a grade three AC joint injury that he picked up in the club’s regular-season clash against the Bulldogs three weeks ago.

Trbojevic required two pain-killing injections during the elimination final victory against Canterbury last weekend after the injury was aggravated, and said his chances of playing his first game for Australia since 2018 were slim.

“I haven’t really addressed that [Pacific Championships],” Trbojevic said. “But I think it would be a bit of a long shot.”

AC joint surgery typically requires a three-month recovery period, which would mean Trbojevic would be back to full fitness for the 2025 NRL season.

The 27-year-old fullback played his last Test for Australia in 2018, but injury woes have prevented him from stepping onto the international stage since.

Tom Trbojevic looked like he was struggling at times against the Bulldogs, but the superstar No.1 is confident he can deliver in Friday’s semi-final against North Queensland.Credit: Getty

Trbojevic was adamant he would be on the pitch for the must-win match against the Roosters on Saturday despite the shoulder issue and a knee injury he also sustained during the regular-season game against the Bulldogs.

“You try and stay off contact until the game, so just give it time to rest up and then just go again in the game,” Trbojevic said.

“We trained just before, and it felt a lot better training, so that’s a way to quantify it. I think that’s just the thing, it’s just a pain thing – obviously first game it’s going to be sore and then it just gets better. ”

It was speculated that Trbojevic’s knee injury was an MCL sprain, but he said the “knee felt fine” and that it was “nothing any more”.

When asked if he thought he would be able to give 100 per cent against the Roosters, Trbojevic was unwavering.

“Of course I do,” he said. “I’m just going out there and doing my best. I’m just going to go out there and do my best, and hopefully it’s good enough.”

Trbojevic was instrumental in the victory last weekend despite being visibly in pain for much of the match and said it was a skill for the team to be able to find the win at this point of the season, no matter how ugly it was.

“We’re not really a side that wins that way, but you get a lot of confidence from that and can build on that,” Trbojevic said.

“But I think in saying that, it’s good in the sense that it’s not like you’re winning easy. You find different ways to win and you also probably not get complacent because we probably weren’t the better side, so there’s still a lot we can take from that game and work on and hopefully bring into this week.”

‘He’s in pretty good shape’: Bennett says Schuster ready for NRL lifeline

Wayne Bennett has described Josh Schuster as being in “pretty good shape” after South Sydney handed the prodigious talent an NRL lifeline.

Schuster, who agreed to a $1 million severance package with the Sea Eagles after battling injury and fitness issues, will be back in the NRL after the Rabbitohs announced a one-year deal on Wednesday.

South Sydney’s interest was first revealed by this masthead last month, and his salary will be a pittance compared to the $800,000-a-year contract he was on at Manly.

Having already flown to Sydney to begin plans for his return to the Rabbitohs, Bennett confirmed he was happy with Schuster’s condition after a brief meeting as he looms as one of Bennett’s project players.

“I only just met him the other day,” Bennett said. “He was well mannered, respectful and looked in pretty good shape.

“We’re going to find out [if he can return to the NRL]. I only had a few words with him and I won’t know until I get back in December, but I was pleased with what I saw.”

Josh Schuster is heading to South Sydney for 2025.Credit: NRL Photos

Bennett’s satisfaction with Schuster’s condition will be a massive boost to Rabbitohs fans given he hasn’t played an NRL match this season.

Having walked away from his Manly deal afterbeing told he was free to find another club, Schuster opted not to pursue a new home for the rest of 2024 as he prioritised hitting the ground running for pre-season training and working through personal issues.

He will be one of Bennett’s major signings alongside English halfback Lewis Dodd, Dolphins forwards Euan Aitken and Lachlan Hubner as well as Manly half Jamie Humphreys.

Schuster has played 50 NRL matches since debuting in 2020 as a teenager, when he was hailed as one of the most exciting talents in the game.

But he’s struggled to stay on the park and has grappled with the emotional toll of his best mate Keith Titmuss dying after a pre-season training session with Manly in 2020.

Schuster appeared as a witness during the coronial inquest into Titmuss’ death, which found the rising forward suffered from exertional heat stroke after an “inappropriate” training session for someone of his size and aerobic capacity.

But Schuster will be one of the most intriguing storylines of 2025 as he joins a star-studded roster including Cameron Murray, Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Jack Wighton and Campbell Graham.

“We think a comeback to the NRL with our club will be just what Josh needs to get his career back on track,” South Sydney head of football Mark Ellison said.

“We’re confident that he can use this second opportunity at NRL level, at a new club with new coaches, new teammates and renewed expectations, to resume his NRL career and achieve his and the team’s goals.”

NRL agrees to split cost with Cowboys for finals trip to Sydney

The NRL will split travel costs with the North Queensland Cowboys after the club were unable to secure flights to Sydney for Friday’s elimination final against the Sharks.

North Queensland fans rushed to book tickets to Sydney after the win against the Knights last weekend, but the NRL hadn’t put tickets on hold for the only two non-stop flights out of Townsville on Thursday.

The Cowboys after their win against the Knights last weekend.Credit: Getty Images

The NRL has since agreed to help cover the cost for a charter flight to and from Townsville for the must-win game.

The NRL came to the rescue of Newcastle last weekend after the last-minute finals scheduling left them facing the long trek up north with less than a week turnaround. The Knights travelled courtesy of the NRL two days before their match.

The Cowboys are planning to arrive in Sydney on Thursday ahead of their clash against Cronulla on Friday night. The winner of that match will play the Panthers in the preliminary final the following weekend.

The second elimination match of the weekend will also be at Allianz Stadium when the Roosters go headtohead with Manly. The winner will play the Storm in Melbourne for a spot in the grand final.

‘Sick and tired of hearing that’: The question that prompted curt reply from Tedesco

A fired-up James Tedesco has rejected the suggestion that the looming departures of a host of key players makes 2024 a crucial year for the Roosters, and remains convinced his team still has what it takes to be premiership contenders despite long-term injuries suffered by Sam Walker and Brandon Smith.

Speaking three days after the Roosters lost 30–10 to the Panthers in week one of the NRL finals, and ahead of their must-win clash against Manly on Saturday, Tedesco said the club expected success this season and in 2025, when Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Joey Manu, Luke Keary and Joseph Suaalii will have moved on.

“Not more [crucial] than usual. Every year is important, so we expect to be successful every year,” Tedesco said.

“We have a great opportunity with the players we have at the moment. It’s not easy to win a grand final or make it to a grand final, so it’s on us to make the most of that opportunity. It wasn’t ideal on the weekend, but that’s why top four gives us a second chance.”

The Roosters have been among the premiership favourites and have their best opportunity to lift the trophy since 2019.

But when asked if their hopes had faded due to injuries to Smith, Walker and Victor Radley, Tedesco was curt.

“No,” he said.

James Tedesco speaks to the media ahead of his team’s elimination final against Manly. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Pushed to explain why not, Tedesco said: “Because you aren’t in the four walls. Honestly, [I] get sick and tired of hearing that from you guys. That’s all you talk about ... Just every time I do media you talk about it ... we have to answer those questions, it’s all part of it.”

Tedesco said the team was motivated to give their departing players a premiership-winning send-off, but acknowledged it wouldn’t be easy.

“That sort of sits in the back of our [our minds as] motivation I guess, but at the end of the day, it’s not going to help us win games,” he said.

“It’s a bit of motivation for us that we know we’re not going to get these opportunities to play with these guys again. It’s hard to win a premiership, we have a great opportunity with the guys we have here in the moment, and it’s a bit of a setback for us on the weekend, but it’s not the end of the trail, for sure.”

Playmaker Luke Keary is leaving at the end of the 2024 season.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Departing playmaker Luke Keary was more diplomatic when asked about the Roosters’ performance against Penrith.

“There are a lot of things being said which is part and parcel this time of year, but personally, I don’t buy into it too much,” Keary said.

“I think a few boys are frustrated here today, obviously really disappointed in just the way we missed that start of that game [against the Panthers].

“This time of year is all about the team. None of us have spoken about it [players leaving]. There are a few of us leaving.”

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