Sydney Roosters star Victor Radley to miss just five NRL games despite 10-match ban

This masthead can reveal coach Trent Robinson and chairman Nick Politis have agreed Radley should be available for selection in round six of next competition, with the English forward having missed the three Tests in the recent Ashes series.

Radley, 27, will also miss the Roosters’ two pre-season challenge matches.

Aside from the suspension without pay – costing him approximately $100,000 – Radley also made a $30,000 donation towards cancer research at St Vincent’s Hospital, which he did in September.

The Roosters suspended Radley for his involvement in a police investigation that led to former teammate Brandon Smith facing allegations of drug supply and providing insider information for betting purposes, that is still before the courts.

Radley has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

The Roosters board discussed terminating Radley’s $750,000-a-season contract, but ultimately agreed on the suspension.

Roosters general manager of football, Mitch Aubusson, has defended the club’s decision to count the Ashes series and pre-season trials as part of Radley’s suspension.

“Rads was going to be picked for England and he was desperate to play,” Aubusson said of the three-Test series that Australia won 3-0.

“There was no pressure from us. He made the decision to put the club first and withdraw from selection. England means a lot to him.

“Plus, he missed out on getting paid for playing in the Test matches. He made the call to do it for the club. That’s what the Roosters mean to him.”

The Roosters announced a 10-match suspension, without pay, for Radley on September 18, which represented the heaviest sanction ever imposed on a player in the club’s history. It did not specify that suspension would be strictly NRL games.

“No matter what way you look at it, it’s still a harsh penalty and a fair whack,” Aubusson said.

“It’s cost him a lot.”

Even in the case of NRL-sanctioned suspensions, Test matches are usually included.

The grey area is normally around selections in fixtures such as the pre-season All Stars match.

Last year, South Sydney Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell was allowed to use the All Stars game to cancel out a one-week ban that was originally going to sideline him from the opening round of the regular season.

The Roosters kick off their 2026 premiership campaign on Friday, March 6 against the New Zealand Warriors at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium.

Radley is soon to return to training with the Roosters for the pre-season.

During his time off he has been back on the tools as a carpenter to cover for the loss of his football earnings.

Radley and his fiancee, Taylah, are awaiting the birth of their second son. The pair are already parents to Vinnie, who was born in January, 2024.

As for Smith, he remains banned from any contact with Radley as he fights to clear his name.

The 29-year-old is still waiting to see police evidence as he defends allegations he helped put Radley in contact with a drug dealer to source cocaine while Radley was on a golf trip with six Roosters teammates to the Sunshine Coast in June.

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Smith was also charged with using or disclosing inside knowledge of betting about South Sydney’s starting line-up for his return from injury against Manly on July 2.

The court ordered the brief of evidence to be delivered to the defence by Wednesday.

Smith’s case has been adjourned until December 4.

Originally published as Sydney Roosters star Victor Radley to miss just five NRL games despite 10-match ban