This was published 6 months ago
Radley avoids sack as Roosters impose 10-match ban, $150k penalty
Updated ,first published
Roosters star Victor Radley has been spared the axe but will serve a 10-game suspension without pay and donate $30,000 to St Vincent’s Hospital after he was implicated in a Queensland Police investigation that led to former teammate Brandon Smith facing a drug supply charge.
The Roosters board, including chairman Nick Politis, met on Thursday after Radley was named as the alleged recipient of a contact from Smith him to source “a dangerous drug namely cocaine” on June 7 – according to the summons obtained by this masthead.
Radley is slated to earn around $700,000-a-season over the remaining two years of his Roosters contract, and a 10-week suspension of his wages would amount to more than $120,000.
Along with a $30,000 donation to The Kinghorn Cancer Research Centre at St Vincent’s Hospital, Radley’s financial punishment adds up to more than $150,000.
Radley was not charged and is not considered a person of interest by Queensland Police. There is no suggestion that Radley obtained or took illegal drugs, but he was implicated in the investigation into Smith by text messages from his phone.
The Roosters had on Wednesday advised Radley’s management to gauge interest from NRL and Super League clubs as they explored the possibility of cutting him loose.
Roosters officials instead imposed what they described as the largest sanction in the club’s 117-year history after being convinced to resist sacking for bringing “the Sydney Roosters into disrepute”.
“I want to sincerely apologise to the club, my teammates, our sponsors, members and fans for the negative spotlight I have brought on the Roosters,” Radley said as he accepted the sanctions in a club statement.
“I accept the sanctions in full and will work hard to earn back the trust and respect of everyone who supports this great club.”
The Roosters have indicated Radley’s suspension will be served throughout their first 10 games of the 2026 NRL season, and will not include pre-season challenge games next year or the upcoming three-Test Ashes series.
Radley has been a regular for the English national side since 2022 and is free to play in the landmark Test series as far as the NRL is concerned.
The NRL has no plans to sanction either Radley or Smith while the latter’s case is before the courts, though the NRL Integrity Unit will stay across proceedings. Smith’s matter was on Thursday adjourned until October 9 and he will not be required to appear in court.
Smith is facing allegations he supplied dangerous drugs and also disclosed inside information for illegal betting. He is expected to fight the charges, with his lawyer telling the court the matter was contested. Smith was granted bail on condition that he make no contact with Radley.
Radley’s future at the Roosters came in for scrutiny given Politis’ public comments of a zero tolerance stance on drug use at the club.
“My view is if somebody’s caught doing cocaine or leaning over snorting something, we’re going to get rid of them,” Politis told The Sunday Telegraph earlier this year.
“Our stance is zero tolerance. We are very strong on it. Trent [Robinson] is very strong on it.”
Roosters powerbrokers had earlier this week consulted legal advice and the terms and conditions of Radley’s deal in preparation to exit the club’s contract with him, before Thursday’s change of heart.
