‘It’s a fair whack’: Roosters make shock Radley call as star’s bumper ban cut short

Victor Radley will reportedly sit out for only five NRL games, with the Roosters making a big call surrounding his matches served leading up to Round 1.

The 27-year-old was handed a 10-game suspension after finding himself involved in a police investigation that saw former teammate Brandon Smith be charged with drug supply and using inside knowledge for betting.

The suspension was handed down by the club and he was not charged with any wrongdoing, leading head coach Trent Robinson and club supremo Nick Politis to make a big decision.

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According to Code Sports, the pair have agreed that Radley can return in Round 6 with three games served during the Ashes series and two in the pre-season challenge.

At the time the investigation surfaced, Radley’s future as a Roosters player was in doubt.

In the end, his suspension without pay cost him around $100,000 and he also made a donation of $30,000 towards cancer research at St Vincent’s Hospital.

Radley is currently earning a reported $750,000 per-season, with his contract running until the end of the 2027 season.

“Rads was going to be picked for England and he was desperate to play,” Aubusson said.

“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.

“No matter what way you look at it, it’s still a harsh penalty and a fair whack. It’s cost him a lot.”

The ban handed down by the Roosters was the biggest club-imposed sanction in NRL history.

Robinson’s side have drawn the Warriors at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium to begin their 2026 campaign, with Radley spending his off-season working as a carpenter.