‘This isn’t a game for these people. This is their lives’: Robinson takes aim over Roosters being dragged into Smith saga

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has taken aim at the coverage of star forward Victor Radley and several teammates being dragged into drug supply allegations against the club’s former marquee recruit Brandon Smith.

Radley was named in a Queensland police summons relating to Smith’s scheduled September 18 appearance at Southport Magistrates Court, where he will be charged on one count of disclosing “inside knowledge” for illegal betting and one count of supplying dangerous drugs.

Sources with knowledge of the situation, talking on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing police investigation, told this masthead that Smith had allegedly reached out to a drug dealer to supply Radley with an illicit substance while he and several teammates were on a Sunshine Coast golf trip during a mid-season bye.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Radley or any other Roosters player. Smith’s lawyer Paul McGirr has indicated that he will contest the looming charges.

Robinson said the English Test back-rower was “hurt” by the saga and insisted he had the club’s full support. The club has been in regular contact with the NRL Integrity Unit but Robinson said “there are no questions to ask at the moment” of his players “because there’s been nothing [formally] presented to us on what happened.”

“People’s integrity is at stake obviously and you need to make sure that you look after the integrity of the people involved,” Robinson said.

“Some people have been wrongfully attached to things as well and so we’ve just got to be careful so at the moment… At some point on September 18 or there will be some information.

“But nothing’s been presented to us at the moment so we’re not going to jump at shadows. We’re going to stay strong and do what we do and that’s play on Friday night [against Melbourne]... It’s been really hard to see the game that people have been playing about connecting the dots on people. This isn’t a game for these (players). This is their lives and their integrity at stake.”

Robinson specifically cited veteran halfback Chad Townsend as a player who “has had an impeccable career” as being dragged into coverage of the saga.

Townsend posted a since deleted video diary of the June long weekend golf trip, which was also attended by Radley, captain James Tedesco, Zach Dockar-Clay, Egan Butcher, Hugo Savala and Sandon Smith.

Robinson said the club the Roosters have yet to be provided with the police documents that have named Radley.

The NRL has confirmed Smith, who made a high-profile move to the Rabbitohs earlier this year, will be free to play against his former club next Friday night as the allegations against him fall short of the game’s mandatory no-fault stand down threshold.

That game will likely decide the eighth-placed Roosters finals fortunes, even if they can pull off an upset win over the Storm in Melbourne.

Sam Walker is on track to return from a heavy concussion next week against South Sydney. Robinson backed his halves replacement Sandon Smith - who has met with both Newcastle and North Queensland around a move for 2026 - to slot in alongside Savala given the pair’s combination earlier this season.

“The focus is really clear, and we go about doing our job,” Robinson responded when asked of his side’s handling of the off-field dramas.

“We feel like we’re a strong team and a strong culture, and this isn’t going to deviate from what our role is, and that’s to play really well tomorrow night.”

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