NRL 2021: Victor Radley, Angus Crichton suspended, Elliott Whitehead fined at judiciary

Victor Radley may have copped the heftiest ban but the Roosters and potentially NSW also lost Angus Crichton to suspension. And the versatile forward was none too pleased.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 22: Victor Radley of the Roosters runs with the ball during the round 11 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Brisbane Broncos at Sydney Cricket Ground, on May 22, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Roosters star Victor Radley has vowed not to change his tackling style despite copping a five-match suspension following his unsuccessful attempt to have a high-tackle charge downgraded at the NRL judiciary.

Radley attempted to have a grade two careless high tackle charge reduced to a grade one on Tuesday night but the three-man panel of Bob Lindner, Dallas Johnson and Tony Puletua opted to uphold the original charge.

As a result, Radley was hit with a four-match suspension with a separate, unrelated offence for dangerous contact in the same match bringing his total ban to five games.

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Victor Radley fronted the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Radley’s Roosters teammate Angus Crichton was also found guilty of a dangerous contact charge. He was suspended for two matches for a late shot on Broncos halfback Albert Kelly and will miss the Origin opener at the MCG on June 9.

“I’m really disappointed,” Radley said. “In saying that, it’s on me. It’s things that I did that put me here, not anyone else. I’m really confident, I’m really happy with my tackling style. I don’t think my tackling style needs adjusting.

“I’ve been taught from a very young age by very good coaches a great tackling style.

“Just because they decide to change the rules midway through the season doesn’t mean I have to change my tackling style. There’s obviously situations in the game like on the weekend where I got it wrong. I can’t do that.

“But I don’t think it’s my tackling style. Tackling low isn’t the answer. I can’t be premeditating tackling low and getting myself knocked out, copping elbows and hips.

“I know I can’t hit the head, but tackling low isn’t the answer.”

Victor Radley had an eventful night against the Broncos. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The NRL’s increased focus on eliminating contact to the head has caused a storm of controversy, with Radley’s case becoming a flashpoint after he was put on report four times in the Roosters loss to Brisbane on the weekend.

Despite now facing five weeks out due to his tackle on Tevita Pangai Jnr, Radley said he would not change his tackling technique.

“As much as the game has changed over the past two weeks and I might have the shits about it or whatnot, but it’s on me,” Radley said. “I let them (my teammates) down. I get to spend some time off to really think about it which is hard but it is what it is.”

NRL counsel Peter McGrath argued Radley had a higher duty of care given he was aiming above the ball and around a higher part of the body.

While Pangai Jr was not injured as a result of the tackle, McGrath maintained the tackle had a higher possibility of injury given Radley’s shoulder made contact with the Brisbane forwards head.

“His action was more than base-level careless, it was moderately careless,” McGrath said.

“He is aiming in an upward trajectory. Upon contact, both feet leave the ground. He launches himself upward. There was no injury, but it is the risk of injury the code guards against.”

Radley’s counsel, James McLeod, put forth that the major force of the collision was from body-on-body contact rather than from Radley’s shoulder hitting Pangai Jr’s head.

McLeod argued Radley’s technique was only slightly off and that any collision between shoulder and head was fleeting and incidental.

“He doesn’t get it wrong by much. It’s a split-second of executing the contact he does make,” McLeod said. “(We) regard contact to the head as low force, the risk of injury to Pangai Jr as low and the degree of carelessness as low.”

Crichton fronted the judiciary after Radley’s case and was devastated to be sidelined for the next two weeks for the tackle.

Angus Crichton was disappointed to be ruled out of Origin contention. Picture: Justin Lloyd

“It’s very disappointing,” Crichton said. “It’s a tough one to take. It was a genuine mistake.

“My vision was impaired and I didn’t know Albert Kelly had the ball. It’s upsetting I’ll miss games for that. To miss games hurts. In the end I’m the one who has to be accountable for my actions, it’s disappointing to miss games and let my teammates down.”

Crichton’s counsel, James McLeod, argued the Roosters backrower had only delivered an “innocuous bump” to Kelly but the three-man judiciary panel of Bob Lindner, Dallas Johnson and Tony Puletua were unmoved.

The 25-year old could have escaped with a fine for the charge if not for his prior offences and his suspension opens the door for Penrith’s Liam Martin or Brisbane’s Tevita Pangai Jr to make their Origin debuts.

Meantime, Canberra’s Elliott Whitehead failed in his bid to have a $1500 fine for tripping Storm fullback Nicho Hynes overturned.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Victor Radley, Angus Crichton suspended, Elliott Whitehead fined at judiciary