Calls for Roosters to axe Test player after 'try of the decade' completely ruined
Sydney Roosters fans are fuming over the team's defence and poor ball-handling after Mark Nawaqanitawase scored one of the greatest tries in NRL history, only for it to count for nothing. And Test player Victor Radley has come under scrutiny for some bizarre defensive efforts late in Friday night's game against the Bulldogs.
Nawaqanitawase scored what many are calling the 'try of the decade' to give the Roosters a 20-18 lead against the ladder-leading Bulldogs. The former Wallabies winger somehow managed to hop on one foot and then chip the ball into the in-goal, before running out and back into play to ground the ball.
NRL fans and commentators were blown away by the astonishing effort, with many describing it as one of the greatest individual tries they've ever seen. "That could be the try of the decade," commentator Mat Thompson said on Channel 9. Andrew Johns said: "No way. That was freakish."
Unfortunately for Nawaqanitawase and the Roosters, it ultimately counted for nothing because the Bulldogs came back from 14-0 down to win 24-20. The Roosters only had themselves to blame, making a staggering 17 errors and completing at just 67 per cent. Despite bagging a double, Nawaqanitawase made six errors of his own and fumbled a number of high balls that gifted the Bulldogs good field position.
The Bulldogs handled the slippery conditions much better, completing at 81 per cent. The Roosters handed the Bulldogs a gift of a try in the second half when Egan Butcher spilled the ball coming out from his line and watched Toby Sexton race away to make it 14-12.
The Dogs then scored through Bronson Xerri in the 62nd minute and Matt Burton in the 73rd, with Burton's try proving the match-winner. But the efforts of Radley on the last two tries raised more than a few eyebrows.
The England Test player was in perfect position to tackle both Xerri and Burton, but bizarrely he didn't even make an attempt on either. Radley might have been carrying an injury that prevented him from pushing off one leg, but Xerri and Burton both ran straight past him as the back-rower didn't even attempt a tackle.
Fans were quick to call Radley out on social media, with some questioning whether he's still up to first-grade standard. There were calls for coach Trent Robinson to give Radley a stint in reserve grade and hand more playing time to some of the club's younger forwards.
Great tackle number 12, pffft
— GregM (@Gmeister67) May 16, 2025
It's like he doesn't want to defend in the middle
— Taylor Losalu Stan Account (Harley) (@Swandog90) May 16, 2025
Oh man Victor Radley is a reserve grader these days
— Wayne Pasterfield (@wpasterfield) May 16, 2025
That's the second time Victor Radley has been completely shat on by a play up the middle and let a player walk through to score. #NRLBulldogsRoosters
— Lachlan Jeffery (@LachlanJeffery) May 16, 2025
Victor Radley embarrassed twice with blokes using footwork going inside him.
— Jo (@SmokinJo21) May 16, 2025
Agree errors destroyed us. In the end it cost us the game. Middle defence has been embarrassing all year, too many soft tries and nothing has improved. Didn't have a Player that could win us the game at the death. Very disappointing loss.
— Tones (@Tones68) May 16, 2025
In the end, Radley and the Roosters were only in that situation because of their atrocious ball-handling. Reporter Lachlan Jeffery wrote on social media: "So many errors by the Roosters. Not winning footy games with 64% completions and 18 errors (sic). Middle defence also embarrassing."
Daily Telegraph columnist 'The Oracle' wrote: "Hoping that one day…..the Roosters will address their diabolical error rate which has plagued this club for over a decade. The Roosters completion rate has been the worst of any team, year after year."
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Speaking after the game, Robinson said Nawaqanitawase was hurting after his error-laden game. The winger refused to do any media interviews and left Accor Stadium soon after the match.
"The cost is really high of those (errors)," Robinson said. "He is a really good catcher, I think there is too much effort in the jump. It's not through lack of technique ... It's an easy fix. But those hurt tonight. I can understand Mark is hurting in there."
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