Radley has been picked to make his NSW debut in next Wednesday’s series-opener in Sydney to wreak havoc on the Maroons.
But if his record is anything to go by, it could be a costly night out at Accor Stadium for NSW and one of the worst behaved players in NRL history.
“Victor the Inflictor” has been charged a stunning 22 times by the NRL’s match review committee in a 166-game career with the Roosters.
Only former Roosters teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (38 charges), Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona (26) and ex-Broncos prop Josh McGuire (24) were sanctioned more in the NRL era.
Radley has spent 14 weeks sitting on the sidelines suspended since his 2017 debut, only one week less than fellow Blues bad boy Hudson Young.
Radley’s on-field behaviour could cost the Blues dearly given he is the second-most sin-binned player in NRL history.
The England international has been sent to the bin 11 times, with only South Sydney’s Latrell Mitchell (13) having spent more 10-minute stints off the field.
Radley has been named on the bench and ex-Maroons forward Billy Moore believes the NSW rookie could have a brain explosion trying to make an impact.
“Victor Radley coming on the field will be one of the must-see moments of the series,” he said.
“I love watching him play because he’s a lunatic and he throws himself into the contest.
“Radley has to be careful. He could be rocks or diamonds. He and Hudson Young are crazy.
“The issue for him is Origin moves so fast, the pace will be quicker than anything he has experienced. There is that risk he can get his timing wrong and get carried away with the occasion.
“Radley isn’t used to coming off the bench, so sometimes you try too hard and go harder and faster because you want to make a statement that you don’t belong on the bench.”
Debutant Maroons halfback Sam Walker plays next to Radley every week for the Roosters.
Walker is expecting Radley to come out firing in the Origin arena.
“Yes for sure,” he said when asked if Radley would rip and tear.
“I’m really happy for him. He’s worked really hard and obviously with the new eligibility rules, there’s a few players that are sort of in the mix now and it’s good for the game that he’s playing Origin.”
While Radley will play the enforcer for NSW, the Maroons have their own muscle up front in Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Tom Flegler.
Moore expects Radley to go after Queensland’s big men.
“I don’t think Queensland will even need to niggle him because he will already be fired up, which can play into our hands,” he said.
“He will want to make a statement to say ‘hey, I belong in this arena, look at what you nearly missed out on’.
“There will be a lot of pressure on him to make a difference off the bench. His main danger is himself – he will run the risk of being untidy.
“I reckon he will have crack at Tino or Flegler. Tino will be coming towards the end of his rotation, but Tino has enough movement to dodge the bullet.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes hammer and tongs at Flegler or Reuben Cotter. (Pat) Carrigan will come off the bench for Queensland and he will have to match the intensity of Radley.”