The Roosters are facing a dilemma of epic proportions as the club\u2019s \u2018zero tolerance\u2019 drugs policy faces its biggest test. <\/p>\n
An alleged text message exchange between former Roosters hooker Brandon Smith and the phone of Roosters forward Victor Radley is set to be used as police evidence when Smith faces court in Queensland.<\/p>\n
Code Sports <\/a>dropped a bombshell on Wednesday morning, reporting the Roosters are examining what the potential salary cap complications would be if Radley\u2019s contract was to be terminated.<\/p>\n Smith is due to appear at Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday, where he will plead not guilty to unlawfully supplying a dangerous drug and using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting.<\/p>\n Watch every game of the NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series before the Grand Final, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n The allegations centre around Smith allegedly arranging for an alleged drug dealer to supply drugs to Radley when the English international was on a golf trip with six Roosters teammates on the Sunshine Coast in early June.<\/p>\n Smith was not on the golf trip but is alleged to have supplied Radley with a contact for him to source \u201ca dangerous drug namely cocaine\u201d, according to the court summons.<\/p>\n Radley has not been charged or accused of any wrongdoing, and there is no suggestion that the 27-year-old actually obtained or took illegal drugs.<\/p>\n And, separate to the court proceedings, that is where the dilemma for the Roosters lies.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the Tri Colours chairman Nick Politis said he wanted a zero-tolerance policy at the club when it came to drugs.<\/p>\n \u201cMy view is if somebody\u2019s caught doing cocaine or leaning over snorting something, we\u2019re going to get rid of them,\u201d Politis told The Sunday Telegraph<\/a> in January.<\/p>\n \u201cOur stance is zero tolerance. We are very strong on it. Trent (Robinson) is very strong on it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe haven\u2019t had to do that yet (move a player on), but we want to send a message to kids, and to mums and dads, that our club has that sort of stance towards this sort of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Politis now faces a decision on Radley, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Radley still has two-years remaining on his $650,000 a season contract, and if his contract is terminated, he may have a case for wrongful dismissal.<\/p>\n That is because he hasn\u2019t been charged with anything, and Queensland Police have said he won\u2019t be charged.<\/p>\n Leading rugby league journalist Paul Crawley addressed the issue on NRL 360 on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n \u201c(There is) no proof that he (Radley) has done anything wrong. No claim that he has done any drugs or bought any drugs,\u201d Crawley said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the text message exchange is what people around the game are talking about. They are talking about the fact that Nick Politis has previously said he has a zero-tolerance policy and will get rid of anyone at the club who has been found to be involved with drugs.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom an NRL perspective, there is no proof that anyone has taken or had drugs, so the question is, does it bring the game into disrepute? Yes, it does, if it is proven (or) if anyone admits to anything.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the Roosters\u2019 point of view, it is the bigger issue because it becomes the moral issue, and the moral issue was outlined by Nick Politis earlier in the year.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the SMH\u2019s Michael Chammas, Politis will \u201cwait until all information comes to light\u201d before he makes a call on Radley.<\/p>\n Text messages at centre of Brandon Smith case<\/p>\n According to court documents obtained by Code Sports<\/a>, it is alleged that Radley texted Smith asking for him to arrange a \u201cshort eight-ball. The term \u201ceight-ball\u201d can refer to an eighth of an ounce, or 3.5 grams of a drug.<\/p>\n It is alleged that Radley sent a text message to the alleged drug dealer that said: \u201cAll good bro you sorted us good man.\u201d<\/p>\n On July 18, the alleged drug dealer was arrested, charged and had his phone seized. Radley\u2019s number was in his phone, according to police. On August 9, Smith was charged.<\/p>\n Court documents show on April 9, when Smith was still playing for the Roosters, there were alleged conversations between Radley and Smith about a possible golf trip to the Sunshine Coast. According to the court documents, Radley texted Smith saying: \u201cWhat program are we running?\u201d<\/p>\n Smith replied with a photo or emoji of a vacuum cleaner sucking up a line of powder.<\/p>\n Smith asked Radley: \u201cCan you send me a rough time and date of golf spots?\u201d<\/p>\n Radley then provided Smith with a screen shot of Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort, Twin Waters Golf Club and the Palmer Coolum Resort with playing dates set for June 5, 6 and 7 this year.<\/p>\n Smith did not end up joining the Roosters players on the golf trip.<\/p>\n