Victor Radley has expressed his gratitude for the support of his pregnant fiancee Taylah, revealing she’s been “bombarded” with messages online after he was hit with a 10-game ban. Radley has been fined $30,000 and given a 10-game ban without pay by the Sydney Roosters for bringing the NRL club into disrepute.
The England international hasn’t been sanctioned by the NRL and isn’t facing any criminal charges. But the Roosters came down hard over text messages between Radley and Brandon Smith that were included in court documents relating to charges that Smith is facing.
Rabbitohs player Smith appeared in Queensland’s Southport Magistrates Court last week, with court documents showing he’s accused of unlawfully supplying Radley with cocaine on the Sunshine Coast on June 7. Radley hasn’t been charged with any offence and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing, but the Roosters had previously trumpeted a strict anti-drug policy.
Victor Radley has revealed the nasty fallout for pregnant fiancee Taylah. Image: Victor Radley/Getty
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph this week, Radley revealed how the situation has affected his family. “I’m embarrassed and never want to be in this position again,” he said. “I made the people I love feel like shit.”
Radley paid tribute to heavily-pregnant partner Taylah, who he described as his “rock” despite being caught in some nasty fallout. “The hardest thing is how this has (affected) my family. I don’t mind copping a bit of hurt myself but my family is the difficult one,” he said.
“I don’t want people around me hurting because of me. My fiancee is getting bombarded (with messages), but she has been the rock for me. As hard as it is for her, she hasn’t shown it too much.
“She is 32 weeks pregnant but has still stood there and made me feel safe and that everything is going to be okay. She hasn’t made me worry about it too much. I am very grateful for her.”
Victor Radley (L) in action for the Sydney Roosters. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Players’ association expresses concerns over Victor Radley ban
Radley expressed his remorse for bringing a negative spotlight on the only NRL club he’s ever played for. Part of his sanction is to donate $30,000 for cancer research at St Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst, and he paid a visit to the hospital’s director of Theranostics and Nuclear medicine on Tuesday.
Radley had earlier made a public apology, stating: “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. I accept the sanctions in full and will work hard to earn back the trust and respect of everyone who supports this great club.”
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The Rugby League Players Association has since expressed concerns as to whether suspending a player without pay is compliant with the sport’s collective bargaining agreement. Radley will effectively lose $150,000 during his 10-game ban.
According to AAP, the RLPA is worried the Roosters’ punishment for Radley could set a dangerous precedent, and is prepared to raise the issue with the NRL. Despite his club-imposed ban, England coach Shaun Wane has stated he’ll still pick Radley for the end-of-season Ashes series against Australia. Because Radley’s ban has been imposed by the Roosters rather than the NRL, he’s still free to play Test matches.
with AAP