Victor Radley is preparing to make a shock return for the Roosters against the Sea Eagles just three weeks after fracturing his scapula against the Raiders.
Radley delayed surgery to the end of the season in a bid to return for the finals and was named in the reserves for the semi-final at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
Braith Anasta revealed he had spoken to Roosters chairman Nick Politis about Radley’s return bid.
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“The Roosters have named Victor Radley on the extended bench,” Anasta said on NRL 360.
“I spoke to Nick Politis today and Radley is preparing to play this week.
Paul Crawley compared Radley’s injury to Cooper Cronk’s 2018 Grand Final heroics, but with one key difference in the position they play.
“It’s a big call, it is the same injury as Cooper Cronk had going into the 2018 Grand Final,” Crawley said.
“The difference is Cronk played that overseeing manager sort of role and Luke Keary took the reins of the team that day.
“Victor Radley is a bruising back-rower that can’t protect his shoulders. So if he takes the field there is no excuses because they have got good back-rowers there.”
However, Gorden Tallis believes Radley is one of the toughest players in the game and won’t need any excuses.
“Victor won’t come up with an excuse, if he plays he will put his body on the line,” Tallis said.
“We saw what Nathan Cleary did the other day. He went out there and tackled everybody. If Victor goes and plays he will just go and do what Victor does.”
However, Anasta warned the Roosters risk losing an interchange if Radley’s shoulder doesn’t aim up in the game and they open themselves up defensively.
“It is a tricky one whether he plays or not because he plays so tough,” Anasta said.
“It has been three weeks. Look at the way he plays and he has got a fractured scapula.
“The problem with this is he could go out and in the first tackle he goes, its no good. Then he’s out for the match and you have got one less on the interchange.
“So it is a decision that Trent Robinson, Victor Radley and the medical staff need to make. I think they will give him until Friday, but it is a big call.”
Read on for the Early Mail for the NRL semi-finals.
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SEMI-FINALS
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20
Sharks vs Cowboys at Allianz Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Siosifa Talakai 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Jesse Ramien
Players cut:
Early Mail: Jesse Ramien is bidding to return from an ankle injury via the reserves, but will need to pass a fitness test. If he is ruled fit, Siosifa Talakai would likely shift to the bench with either Jack Williams or Royce Hunt dropping out.
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jaxon Purdue 19. Chad Townsend 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Braidon Burns 22. Tomas Chester
Players cut:
Early Mail: Jaxon Purdue has been named as 18th man after Thomas Mikaele held the role last week against the Knights.
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SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21
Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Naufahu Whyte 14. Siua Wong 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May 18. Zach Dockar-Clay 19. Fetalaiga Pauga 20. Blake Steep 21. Michael Jennings 22. Victor Radley
Players cut:
Early Mail: Victor Radley is preparing to play this week, according to Roosters chairman Nick Politis, despite suffering a fractured scapula three weeks ago. If he passes a fitness test on Friday, Radley would likely join the bench with Siua Wong making way.
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Tommy Talau 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jamie Humphreys 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Corey Waddell
Players cut:
Early Mail: Tom Trbojevic is again expected to be needled to play with shoulder and knee injuries as he did in the win over the Bulldogs.
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