NRL round 8: Sydney Roosters v St George Illawarra Dragons, Victor Radley sin bin comments, pitch invader slammed

There are fears Victor Radley is being driven out of the NRL and directly into the arms of Rugby Australia, following his third straight sin-binning.

Roosters' Victor Radley being sin-binned.

Sydney Roosters star Victor Radley has been urged to quit rugby league over on-field “victimisation” and immediately contact Wallabies coach Eddie Jones.

Radley was sin-binned for a ninth time – and third game in a row – during Tuesday’s Anzac Day game against St George Illawarra.

There are now fears Radley could be driven out of the NRL and directly into the arms of Rugby Australia.

Radley was hit with a grade one careless high tackle charge for a collision with St George Illawarra’s Michael Molo but can escape suspension by pleading guilty and paying a $3000 fine.

The Roosters enforcer claimed it was an accidental head collision but referee Adam Gee banished Radley for 10 minutes. Radley labelled it a “sh*t decision.”

Two of the toughest and hardest players in rugby league history – Mark Carroll and David Gillespie – claim Radley is being targeted by match officials based on his reputation.

Victor Radley during his junior rugby days.

Carroll went as far as to say Radley could quit rugby league to become an open-side flanker in union.

“Are you kidding? I feel sorry for that bloke. It was a joke. I thought: ‘What game am I watching here?’ This happens in tag footy. I think he’s being victimised,” Carroll said.

“If I was him, the way I’m getting treated, I’d be saying: ‘Eddie, give me a call’.

“This is what it does … as a player, it gets you out of your sport. It could drive him out of the game and I tell who should be chasing him up – rugby union.

“The way he plays and tackles. He could be a blindside flanker. He could play rugby union – anyone can play rugby, seriously. Victor loves rugby league but he could start to have second thoughts.

“You know why he’d make it in rugby union? Because he can hit. Rugby league teaches you how to tackle and in rugby union they turn the ball back inside because their forwards are too fat and can’t move.

“The blindside flankers can smash blokes and Victor’s the king. I played rugby union for two years and only made it because I could defend.”

Former Wallaby and Canberra Raiders forward Steve Lidbury added: “I think Victor’s aggression is just what the Wallabies need. The modern day game might be different but he’d certainly bring some mongrel.”

Radley is under contract until the end of 2027 but played junior rugby union with Clovelly, the club’s jumper proudly displaying the famous Randwick emblem.

Carroll said Radley’s confidence was slowly being drained.

“You don’t want to be a player going out each week thinking you’re one hit from being sin binned or sent off,” he said.

“You could see the hurt in his face when sib-binned. He was saying to Jared (Waerea-Hargreaves) after the game, ‘this is bullshit’. He was furious. He will end up with zero confidence.

“This is a collision game – we’re playing the most brutal game in the world and accidents happen. Sometimes I think Victor gives away penalties because he hits them too hard.”

Victor Radley talks to referee Adam Gee during Anzac Day clash.

Gillespie, the former NSW and Australian hardman, was equally concerned about Radley, saying: “You can see he is becoming increasingly frustrated at what’s happening.

“I don’t think he will leave rugby league and I really hope he doesn’t but if he keeps getting binned and being targeted then who is to say he won’t want to leave our game and go to rugby union or Super League?

“There’s nothing worse than feeling as though people are looking for reasons to send you to the sin bin. I thought it was a head clash and that a sin binning was too tough on Victor.

“Victor has deserved to be sin binned several times but I also think he’s been hard done by a few times.”

The NRL was not commenting on Radley’s sin bin record but one rival club CEO did say: “Victor does sail close to the wing and his target zone is marginal. There have been more sin bins this year than in recent memory. It’s not just Victor being marched. He’s not being singled out.”

RADLEY LEARNS FATE FOR ‘SH*T’ ANZAC DAY SIN BIN

Sydney Roosters star Victor Radley has escaped with a fine over the controversial incident that led to his sin-binning on Anzac Day.

Radley was charged with a grade one careless high tackle after what appeared to be a head clash with St George Illawarra’s Michael Molo.

It is his third and subsequent offence so he can avoid a ban and escape with a $3,000 fine.

The lenient response from the NRL is likely to heighten claims from Roosters coach Trent Robinson and captain James Tedesco that Radley is treated more harshly than other players whenever there is a hint of head contact.

Radley was sent to the sin bin in the 63rd minute – the third game in a row the lock forward had been marched, taking his tally to nine which is the most in the NRL era, but he was filthy with the decision made by referee Adam Gee.

Victor Radley of the Roosters is placed on report and sent to the sin bin by referee Adam Gee. Picture: Getty Images

“But for the boys to win, we shouldn’t have been in that position but we were and Keary nailed it in the end and we hung on there in the end,” Radley told Fox League after the game.

“But I’m all over the shop, my head’s gone, I’m lost.

“It was a head clash, it was sweet but for me to get 10 in the bin for that, I don’t know, mate I’m all over the shop at the end of the game.

“I’m all over the shop personally, I was losing my mind in the sheds there, it was a head clash. I don’t know who made that decision, shit decision, sorry,”

“I’m so happy we won, if we lost I would have been even worse. It’s really tough, I don’t know what they see in that, but it was a head clash, but whatever.”

Club chairman Nick Politis talks to Victor Radley after the game. Picture: Getty Images

“Rads was adamant that it was head on head, and that’s what I saw,” Tedesco said.

“I didn’t see all the angles, but I said (to the ref) that if it was anyone else but Victor, it would have been okay. If there’s any contact around the head or if it’s a head clash, Victor gets a bit harshly treated.”

Trent Robinson agreed with Tedesco’s summation, but conceded his views may be biased given he’s the coach.

It was a real shame because the English international was outstanding in the first half, putting Egan Butcher into a yawning gap to set up Tedesco for the opening try, while he had a four-pointer of his own when he charged into a hole.

PITCH INVADER HUGS NRL STAR, PROMPTS SECURITY FEARS

The Roosters will likely ask Allianz Stadium officials for a please explain after a pitch invader was allowed to dawdle his way across the ground before he approached Dragons centre Zac Lomax and hugged him.

Security guards saw the shirtless man but were slow to react, with the invader able to move slowly across halfway with about five minutes remaining.

Players had their backs turned as they waited for a captain’s challenge with the game in the balance at 27-26, before the man hugged Lomax and was then apprehended by security.

Running onto the field results in large fines and possible lifetime bans from the venue, but it’s unclear what punishment the man will receive.

There were a number of incidents last year headlined by an invader at the grand final who was later identified as former NRL player Mark McLinden, while another fan brought a flare onto the field at PointsBet Stadium.

A pitch invader is taken off the field by security.

The concerning thing is that security was so slow to act on Anzac Day, which put the players at risk if the invader had a weapon or wanted to violently attack them.

“It’s very dangerous,” Roosters skipper James Tedesco said.

“Who knows what the invader could have on them or (if they want to) attack a player. It is a bit scary. Obviously security need to be a bit better there and not allow pitch invaders to get in contact with any players.

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin saw the incident but had bigger things to worry about, while skipper Ben Hunt was just glad that nobody got hurt.

“I guess it is a bit of a concern if someone can get to a player and tackle them or something like that,” Hunt said.

“I guess it’s dangerous, but what can you do? You can’t put 1000 security around the fence. You’ve just got to be aware of them when they come.”

Not sure I’ve seen a more casual security response to a pitch invader… Bloke had time to hug Dragons centre Zac Lomax… pic.twitter.com/lwrS751cvw

— Eamonn Tiernan (@Eamonn_Tiernan) April 25, 2023

Dragons fans cheer on their side during the Anzac Day clash.

WALKER’S OFF – FOR GOOD?

Their attack was at sixes and sevens in back-to-back defeats, so much so that halfback Sam Walker was dropped to reserve grade, so there was a sense of poetic justice that the six and seven combined to seal the win.

Walker will work his way back into this team one way or the other, but he may have to bide his time after Joseph Manu toyed with the defence around the ruck and then fired a crisp pass to Luke Keary who stepped up in his new role as the general to end one of the wildest games of the year with a one-pointer.

Robinson couldn’t have asked for more from Manu who provided a point of difference at five-eighth, roaming the field and scoring a try while he also broke nine tackles after being kept very quiet against the Sharks.

That allowed Keary to control the game at first receiver, which included a classy try when he dummied and went straight through a Dragons defence that offered little resistance in the first half.

Joey Manu enjoys a try after his shift to five-eighth.

SLOAN HAS US ON THE HOOK

It was only six months ago that Tyrell Sloan wanted to leave the Dragons after an apparent falling out with Anthony Griffin, so it’s somewhat ironic that a magical five-minute burst by the fullback may have saved his coach’s job for now.

This is a game the Dragons were never expected to win, and it looked like they were headed for a hefty defeat until Sloan and his incredible feet turned the game.

The young gun started the comeback when he evaded several defenders and then produced a fantastic flick to set up Tautau Moga for the first of his two tries, before the fullback wove through the defence to score one of his own.

He almost broke the 26-all deadlock but just couldn’t ground the ball before it went dead, but his individual brilliance saved them when it could have got ugly.

The pressure will ease on Griffin if they beat the Bulldogs at home on Sunday and then get the job done against the winless Tigers at Magic Round, with a couple of victories enough to get them close to eighth given how tight the competition is.

The Dragons’ effort can never be questioned, but it’ll take more than gritty losses and moments of magic from a guy who didn’t want to be at the club to save his job.

Daniel Tupou likely to miss multiple weeks after suffering left hamstring strain in attempted chase here. Classic sprinting mechanism (“shot by a sniper”), tough to escape with just a minor strain in those suffered at top end speed. pic.twitter.com/bR2C9r22ee

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 25, 2023

TUPOU FEELING THE BLUES

There’s a reason why Blues coach Brad Fittler writes his Origin team in pencil, with Daniel Tupou the latest player to go down with injury a month out from the series opener.

The incumbent winger played all three games last year ahead of Josh Addo-Carr in one of the most controversial calls of the series, but he was very solid doing all the dirty work coming out of trouble.

But Tupou is in serious doubt for game one on May 31 after the Roosters winger limped off with a hamstring injury while chasing Sloan who sped away and stepped past Jaxson Paulo to score.

The Roosters aren’t stacked in the outside backs, with Corey Allan a chance to fill in, while Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii can also shift to the left wing with Drew Hutchison or even Manu an option to go back to the centres.

“I don’t think it’s great with that hammy,” Robinson said.

“It looked like the old sniper in the crowd. He hasn’t had one before so it doesn’t feel great at the moment.”

Storm secure comeback win in Anzac Day classic

— Lance Jenkinson

A never-say-die Melbourne Storm has twice fought back from 12 points down to overcome a gutsy New Zealand Warriors 30-22 in a seesawing Anzac Day classic before a sold out 23,469 at AAMI Park.

In one of the matches of the season, the Storm dug deep with a huge second half, sparked by two tries and 218 run metres from Anzac Medal winner Nick Meaney.

It was the Storm’s eighth consecutive win in the traditional April 25 contest, dating back to 2014, and extended the Storm’s winning streak over the Warriors to an incredible 14 games.

While the Warriors walked away defeated, they lost no friends with an effort they could take pride in, but the physical toll of the game seemed to hurt them more than the Storm, the loss of skipper Tohu Harris to a knee injury particularly telling.

Less than five minutes in, the visitors broke through when Dylan Walker produced a short pass into Jackson Ford to cross over the line.

The Warriors gained plenty of territory through the middle early with Ford, Addin Fonua-Blake, Jazz Tevaga and Harris penetrating.

The Storm had a chance to hit back immediately, but centre Reimis Smith dropped the ball before planting it over the line.

Nick Meaney was awarded the Anzac Medal. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

The Warriors showed tremendous discipline in their play for the first 35 minutes, completing their sets and putting the Storm on the back foot.

It paid dividends when they doubled their lead through winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who was unattended on the right edge to make it 12-0.

Cam Munster said enough is enough.

The crafty Storm five-eighth noticed a paddock of space behind the Warriors defensive line and went long for a 40/20.

From the ensuing set, the Storm found their first try through centre Justin Olam, which breathed life into the home team.

Filthy move

Addin Fonua-Blake made the Storm look silly with a filthy sidestep.

The 27-year-old carved a wedge between Storm forwards Tariq Sims and captain Christian Welch and set sail for the tryline, restoring the Warriors 12-point advantage.

Fonua-Blake had been the standout player in the first half with 121 run metres in the opening 40.

A Shaun Johnson mishap from a goal line drop out, where he was penalised for kicking out beyond the line, proved costly for the Warriors with Munster scoring from the next set, carving the deficit to six.

Johnson was superb for the Warriors with 653 kick metres, but that error was a turning point in the game.

It was a disastrous end to the half for the Warriors with Harris hobbling off with a knee injury and Walker marched for 10 for dangerous contact after slamming the head of Storm forward Eliesa Katoa into the turf.

Cameron Munster scores a try for the Storm. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Rags to riches

With the extra player to start the second half, Storm full back Nick Meaney produced a hospital pass to Reimis Smith, who knocked on and the Warriors took advantage, scoring through Watene-Zelezniak in the corner.

But Meaney found his way back into the coach’s good books, touching down for a try from a delightful Xavier Coates grubber, trimming the margin to four.

Meaney, who was massive in the second half with 241 run metres and 18 total points, made it two consecutive tries when he swooped on a loose ball to give the Storm an unlikely lead.

After a lengthy arm wrestle, the Storm finally broke the resolve of the Warriors, when Munster went on a 50-metre run, setting the platform for the game-winning Harry Grant try.

SCOREBOARD

STORM 30

Tries: Meaney 2, Olam, Munster, Grant.

Goals: Meaney (5/5).

WARRIORS 22

Tries: Watene-Zelezniak 2, Ford, Fonua-Blake.

Goals: Johnson (3/4).

Crowd: 23,469 at AAMI Park, Melbourne.

Anzac Medal: Nick Meaney

Originally published as NRL round 8: Sydney Roosters v St George Illawarra Dragons, Victor Radley sin bin comments, pitch invader slammed