NRL bad boy in hot water again

Victor Radley is facing another lengthy stint on the sidelines just hours after Roosters coach Trent Robinson defended his actions for a tackle on Albert Kelly that led to him being hit with a grade two dangerous contact charge.

Radley is now looking at a three to four week suspension after he made contact with Kelly’s legs while he was attempting a late field goal in the Roosters 21-20 win over the Broncos.

“Rads was innocent with what he was trying to do and there was no injury to Albert,” Robinson said after the game.

Incredibly, Radley was put on report four times, sin-binned twice and ultimately suspended for five games in the shock 34-16 loss to the Broncos in round 11 which also included a charge for a dangerous tackle on Kelly.

Robinson was not overly concerned about the implications of Radley’s charge down on Kelly when he spoke after the Roosters win on Friday night. He said the circumstances were totally different to the round 11 charges and that his tough lock forward had no intent to hurt Kelly in any way.

Kelly got up and finished the match.

“If someone thinks that is an emotional play I would be surprised,” Robinson said.

“That is a guy who is doing everything he can to charge down the ball. He wouldn’t have had any thought that would happen.

“I wouldn’t like to align the stuff that happened against Brisbane last time to this time. That is very different.

“He made him miss the field goal but got it slightly wrong. He’s disappointed about letting them back into the game, but that is not an emotional play that one.”

Radley’s charge has come at the worst time for the Roosters with their laundry list of injured stars and Origin forward Angus Crichton already out of action for another two weeks after being charged for a crusher tackle in the round 21 loss to Penrith.

Kelly struggled to get to his feet after Radley’s tackle. Picture: NRL ImagesSource:Supplied

The Roosters still have two young match winning stars with ice in their veins on deck so it is no wonder Robinson insists his injury and suspension ravaged team can still win the premiership.

The brave Roosters have already used 32 players this year but Robinson was bullish about his depleted team’s title credentials after the win over the Broncos.

“We are in the fight, so as long as we are in the fight,” Robinson said.

“We understand where we are at. We know we want to improve but we believe in our team and the jersey we play for. We have just got to keep going. We will find a way.”

Tyros Sam Walker and Adam Keighran have both found a way and come up with big match winning plays in tight contests to get the Roosters provisionally in the top four for the first time since round eight.

Robinson was in awe of 24-year-old Keighran’s 80th minute penalty from nine metres in from touch to secure victory over the Broncos. That was after Walker landed a crucial field goal minutes earlier and made it look like shelling peas. Rookie 19-year-old half Walker had earlier iced a 35-34 win over the Titans with a 79th minute field goal. Walker’s cool as a cucumber approach under pressure also has impressed the coach.

“He is kicking nice field goals. He is learning a lot this year about how to play the game and how to put it into the NRL sphere,” Robinson said.

“It is a tough place to learn but he is doing well. His field goal kicking is very nice and I get to see it at training and he ices them really well.

“Adam is just getting started. He had nine games before this year so probably hasn’t had many of those opportunities at NRL level but he is a beautiful kicker of the ball and absolutely nailed it. It is a real tip of the cap to Adam.”

Robinson has coached the Roosters to three premierships. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

The four competition points in close contests that Walker and Keighran have proved so vital in claiming could yet be the difference in the Roosters having two bites at the cherry in the finals rather than playing sudden death.

“They are learning on their feet and we have just got to keep going,” Robinson said.

“We came out of a tough period around Origin and we have continued to drop players (to injury), so I am asking some guys who are just getting started to play big minutes and big moments.

“I thought Isaac Liu, Siosiua Taukeiaho, and Rads (Victor Radley) were really strong (against Brisbane) and showed some of the young guys in the team how to play moments, and how to continually play and execute your play and then come up with a big play when it is needed.”

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