Angry fans are calling on the NRL to step in after Roosters star Victor Radley escaped suspension despite being put on report for three separate incidents in their Round 9 win over Brisbane. Radley was as surprised as anyone on Sunday when told live on air that he wasn’t charged by the match review committee (MRC) after a number of controversial incidents in Saturday night’s 14-point victory over the Broncos.
The Roosters forward was put on report for a hip-drop tackle on Josiah Karapani, which resulted in a suspected syndesmosis injury for the Brisbane winger that could sideline him for a number of weeks. The MRC judged that Radley’s body weight landed on the ground rather than directly on his opponents’ legs, and therefore didn’t cause the injury.
Fans are calling on NRL bosses to step in after Roosters star Victor Radley (R) escaped sanction despite being put on report for three incidents in the win over Brisbane. Pic: Getty
Radley was also was penalised for a high shot on Ben Talty moments later that the MRC deemed not to be worthy of a charge. And his tackle on Brisbane star Patrick Carrigan was not mentioned at all in the judiciary report, despite Radley driving head-first into his opponent and collecting him in the head in a dangerous situation.
Fortunately, Carrigan was not hurt in the tackle which may have been the only thing that saved Radley from a charge. But other similar incidents have resulted in sin-bins and bans in the past, leaving fans baffled by the decision not to sanction Radley – who has a lengthy rap sheet of prior offences. The Roosters forward was just as shocked as anyone to learn that he’d escaped sanction when he joined Sunday’s NRL coverage on Fox League.
“Really? Is this April Fools?” Radley replied when told the news. “Happy days. I thought for sure something was coming. That’s actually great news. What a place to be told that. I was going to keep this suit for the judiciary, but I don’t need it any more. I might keep it for the races.”
Fans call on NRL to step in after Victor Radley escapes ban
While Radley was understandably keen to see the funny side of it, fans were left fuming that he escaped a ban. Many labelled the MRC decision a “joke” and called on the NRL to invoke a little-known rule introduced in 2022 that gives league bosses the power to request that the MRC re-asses certain incidents.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 12: Victor Radley of the Roosters stduring the round 19 NRL match between St George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney Roosters at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, on July 12, 2025, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
(Brendon Thorne via Getty Images)
The rule was used last year when Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton initially escaped suspension for raking the face of Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen. The NRL stepped in and Crichton copped a delayed charge 24 hours after the MRC’s ruling, and many fans believe the same should happen for Radley.
Adding to the drama from Saturday night’s game was the fact Kotoni Staggs was the only player charged by the MRC, leaving his Origin hopes under a major cloud. Staggs was slapped with a two-game ban for an elbow to the back of Hugo Savala’s head. If he accepts the early guilty plea it means Staggs won’t play again for Brisbane before Laurie Daley picks his NSW side for Game 1. Staggs would be banned for three games if he fights the Grade 2 dangerous contact charge and loses.