Sydney Roosters hardman, 26, thought his hopes of playing Test rugby league were ended after he shattered his shoulder but he’s back to make amends for World Cup semi-final heartache and also fancies a crack at club footy in the UK.
Aussie Victor Radley reckons his wife wanted him to miss England duty – but she’s up for a Super League move.
The Sydney Roosters hardman lines up again for Shaun Wane’s side against Samoa in Wigan on Sunday. His hopes of making the Test series looked dead and buried when he broke his shoulder blade against Canberra in September. However, remarkably, the tough loose forward – nicknamed Victor The Inflictor – was back playing for his club inside just THREE weeks so he wasn’t missing international action. Radley, who qualifies for England given his dad hails from Barnsley, conceded: “I thought I was gone for sure at the time.
“I didn’t think I would be here. She wasn’t planning holidays but she acted like she was angry I was going to miss out on it. But I know deep down she would have been happy. I thought I’d dislocated it at the time. But when I found out it was a break I was pretty confident I could return quicker.
“We had eyes on the Grand Final. I got back a bit earlier and I’ve had a month off resting now. I’ve had a couple of weeks rehabbing it and it’s all good. So I’ve ended up making it – and I’m good to go for England.”
Radley was touted as a potential Kangaroos player and had already been called into the New South Wales State of Origin squad when he accepted Wane’s offer to play for England at the 2022 World Cup. But he has no regrets and loves the English way of life. The beer-loving 26 year-old has been roaming the South Yorkshire countryside, sampling various farm shops and pubs, on his latest trip back and says the highlight’s been watching his dad’s club Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Radley admitted: “There’s always someone cracking jokes everywhere you go or an old woman getting stuck into someone in the pub! It’s hilarious. It’s very different to back home that’s for sure. I love coming to England; the culture in this country is something I view so fondly.”
Which brings the obvious question: does he fancy a crack at Super League? Radley, under contract with Roosters until 2027, replied: “One hundred percent. I’ve already spoken to my partner about it. We’ve got kids but I know she’d love it as well over here. It’s something I want to do for sure at some point in my career.”
But firstly it’s all eyes on Samoa, and righting some painful wrongs. England were flying in the home World Cup two years ago before the Pacific islanders sent them crashing in an epic semi-final at Emirates Stadium.
Radley, who earned man of the match on his Test debut when Wane’s side thrashed Samoa 60-6 in the tournament opener, recalled: “The memories of that day aren’t great. I threw the intercept which lost us the game, so it puts a dampener on that experience and tournament for me. Even going on holidays after, I barely brought it up. If we’d won I’d have mentioned it all the time.”
Has revenge been spoken of this week? Radley, who starred as England routed Tonga 3-0 last autumn, conceded: “I’m sure it’ll get mentioned because it’s on everyone’s minds. But I think those days of revenge in a battle sense are long gone; we’ve got to play our best football.”
