Latest news with #VictorRadley
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘He'll be a beast and he'll kill it': The behind the scenes traits that have Roosters players crowing about Robert Toia's Origin debut
Teammates have backed Roosters rookie Robert Toia to 'kill it' on Origin debut, with Victor Radley confident the inexperienced centre can handle his daunting individual battle with Latrell Mitchell. It took Toia just six minutes to show the world why the Roosters had spruiked his talents for so long as he recovered from two serious knee injuries and a broken jaw to finally make his debut against the Broncos. With one of his first touches, Toia broke through, fended away from Roosters legend James Tedesco and set up Dom Young for the opening try with a play that likely caught the eye of Queensland coach Billy Slater. Injuries to Murray Taulagi and Selwyn Cobbo have opened the door for the 20-year-old to make his Maroons debut after just 10 NRL appearances, with Toia no stranger to the Origin arena having represented the under-19s in 2022. 'He'll be a beast and he'll kill it,' Victor Radley said. 'For how hard he's worked, it's good to see this come for him so soon in his career. It's well deserved. 'You never see that kid with his head down despite everything he's been through. He's always in the gym working hard, and it's all paying off now. 'Whenever you speak to someone, they tell you that hard works comes first and foremost; he lives that and it's great to see him get his chance.' Siua Wong was the first player to graduate from the Roosters Academy into the NRL and is proud of Toia, who will be the first to play Origin after going through the system. Roosters players have lived together in Kingsford through their journey, with the pair playing reserve grade together last year before they linked up on the right edge in the NRL where they've both had outstanding starts to the season. 'Everyone that is close to him and has seen him play knew that Origin was going to be in his future, but we didn't realise how soon it would come,' Wong said. 'I think that's a credit to how hard he's worked. 'Over the past 10 games he's been able to showcase his talent, but the one thing Billy said was that he liked his principles, and I think that's something that's very underrated about his game. 'He's able to work in those areas that people who watch the game might not be able to see, but he definitely does what's best for the team. 'Any time he gets ball in hand, everyone can see how good of a player he is. 'But the one area of his game that's underrated is his work ethic. It's one thing in this game to have talent, but it's another to back it up with all the little things.' Toia has come across as softly spoken in the few interviews he's done this year, but Radley has warned the Blues that there's more to him than meets the eye as the young gun prepares to take on his idol and former Rooster, Latrell Mitchell. 'He's got the skills and the physical attributes to do it, and then his mindset will also help,' Radley said of the Mitchell match-up. 'He's shown since round 1 that he can do it, and by all reports Billy picked him because of how hard he works off the ball. 'I feel like his work ethic and his physical attributes are good enough and will get him over the line. 'In the media, everyone think he's a quiet kid. But he's really loved in the team and he's funny. Once you get to know him, he opens up. 'He's got a good crew here at the Roosters with the young guys who came through together, and they're hilarious. He's a legend and his humour is probably the biggest thing that people don't see.'
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘These weeks are special': Roosters get sympathy for tough draw but senior leader is excited by Origin challenge
While others are questioning whether it's fair for the Roosters to have to play all three stand-down State of Origin matches, veteran Victor Radley is excited by the challenge and doesn't want people feeling sorry for the glamour club. The Roosters have five players in the Origin teams for the May 28 opener and are set to be without their stars ahead of games two and three, with the club not having a bye before any of those matches. The Bulldogs and Sea Eagles also have to play in rounds 12, 15 and 18, with fans of all three clubs entitled to feel hard done by given they will be missing key players. But instead of debating whether it's fair or not, Radley and the Roosters welcome the challenge of lifting without their quality quintet for Saturday's showdown with the Sharks. The Roosters will still have James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and other stars, with Radley recalling a similar challenge in 2017 when they outlasted the Rabbitohs despite being without key players because of Origin. 'I feel like it's so exciting,' he said. 'We came in yesterday (Monday) and straight away had the feeling that we're going to have young boys playing and we might have some guys making their debuts and starting for the first time. 'The excitement around the team is there. 'I remember in 2017 (going through something similar). I didn't actually play during that Origin period, but I remember coming into training thinking that I might get a shot. 'It's a really special time, and this club can be really strong with these young guys coming in. I'm really pumped for it.' Robert Toia, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, Connor Watson and Spencer Leniu will all be missing, but they should get Englishman Dom Young back for Saturday's clash, while their young forwards showed against Penrith earlier this year that they have the talent and the belief to get the job done. 'As an older guy, I can't wait to get out there with them,' Radley said. 'I can't wait to stand there and say 'let's go boys' as people walk out for their first game. 'It's what you play for. These weeks are special.' Siua Wong has stepped up on the right edge this season and is backing other graduates of the Roosters academy to excel this weekend. 'The players that have developed through the academy are ready. I don't think they'd be here training with us if they weren't,' he said. 'Robbo (Roosters coach Trent Robinson) definitely won't have trouble finding guys to play these spots. 'A lot of the boys have the confidence in their abilities, and that comes from the hard work they've done over the years.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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." RELATED: Payne Haas hits back as Broncos player set to be ousted from club Calls for fresh investigation after $828m 'disgrace' in women's Origin 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."
The Advertiser
21-04-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Radley's blunt assessment ahead of Anzac Day test
Victor Radley is backing the Anzac Day stage to fire up a Sydney Roosters defence he admits has been exposed in their stuttering NRL season start.
