The spotlight is being shone on Roosters star Victor Radley ahead of a court case against his friend and former teammate Brandon Smith this week.
Smith will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on the Gold Coast on Thursday to answer charges of unlawfully supplying a dangerous drug and using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting.
Radley has not been charged by police and is not expected to be, but Smith is accused of facilitating a drug deal for him during a Roosters team golf trip earlier this year.
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According to Nine and The Sydney Morning Herald journalist Michael Chammas, the saga could yet cost Radley his contract with the NRL team.
Radley and his management have since been told by club officials to start exploring his options at other clubs – whether in the NRL or overseas in the Super League.
The club’s desire, according to The Herald, is to reach an “amicable resolution” with the local Clovelly Crocodiles junior and avoid a potential unfair dismissal legal suit.
“I spoke to (Roosters chairman) Nick (Politis) last night, he is in the United States at the moment on his way back to Australia,” Chammas told Today on Wednesday morning.
“The Roosters have to wait until this court case with Brandon Smith on Thursday. The allegations are in relation to Brandon Smith, Victor Radley is not in the sights of Queensland police.
“But given Nick Politis, his strong stance at the start of the year when he said the club would have a zero tolerance towards drug use, or any player who is standing over any powder… it’s going to be a tough conversation the Roosters have to have.
“There is a possibility that Victor Radley’s time at the club could come to an end, based on the information that comes to light from the court case.
Brandon Smith and Victor Radley when they were teammates. Getty
“It will be interesting to see how the Roosters handle this.”
Radley signed a new contract with the club in 2023 and is tied to the Tricolours until the end of 2027.
The gun forward is reportedly earning $700,000 a season.
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Chammas explained the issue with sacking him is Radley has not been charged with a crime, and there is no proof he ingested illegal drugs.
He says the NRL’s integrity unit is also following the case closely.
“They have been informed of all the information but they are going to wait and see how that plays out in court, see how the Roosters handle it, and if they need to come over the top then they will,” he said.
“My understanding is the conversations at the Roosters right now are whether or not to keep Victor Radley at the club beyond this season.
Roosters boss Nick Politis talks to Victor Radley. Getty
“If they try to terminate his contract there is a potential argument there that he hasn’t been charged with anything, this is Brandon Smith who is fronting court and the allegations put forward by Queensland Police aren’t going to result in any criminal charges for Victor Radley, so that could be his defence, a wrongful dismissal.”
Smith played alongside Radley at the Roosters until being released mid-season this year to join South Sydney.
He was pulled aside by police when the Rabbitohs landed on the Gold Coast ahead of their round 23 game against the Titans.
Police reportedly seized Smith’s phone, and on Tuesday text messages between himself and Radley were published by several media outlets.