![\"Roosters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/4ff3393ee9c52a4da562ab6295063f4b90c5473a.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nHe now looks likely to be joined by Smith, who, like Radley, was born and bred in Sydney but has English parentage and has declared himself available to represent the Lions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s awesome,\u201d Radley said of Smith\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Roosters centre Billy Smith has made himself available to play for England.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI know about his parents being English, so I didn\u2019t want to bring it up with him too much … I didn\u2019t really want to bombard him with it. When he told me, I was stoked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought, \u2018yeah, world-class centre\u2019. He\u2019s been one of the best centres all year, so I\u2019m stoked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith confirmed he had spoken to Wane about representing England but, like Radley, insisted his priority was to help the Roosters finish 2025 strongly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe belief is there,\u201d he said. \u201cBut in saying that, we haven\u2019t really achieved anything at the minute.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve still got three tough games to go, starting this week with Parramatta, and that\u2019s where our focus will be at.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there is a strong feeling in the group. We\u2019re really confident in the style of footy we want to play, so now it\u2019s about going and doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old centre said playing in an Ashes series would be the highlight of a career that is finally starting to bloom after being interrupted by three knee reconstructions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s the pinnacle of rugby league to be completely honest with you,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019d be awesome to get selected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Radley has appeared in nine Tests for England<\/a>, winning eight of them, but is yet to line up against the Kangaroos.<\/p>\n He said he always sings God Save the King \u201cloud and proud\u201d and would not feel conflicted when the Australian anthem is played.<\/p>\n \u201cI love this country,\u201d he said. \u201cI grew up here. Australia\u2019s my home. I\u2019m not going to pretend that I\u2019m completely English.<\/p>\n Loading<\/p>\n \u201cAustralia\u2019s my home. I grew up at Bronte Beach, so I love this country. I love Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cThat [English] anthem means something to me as well, and my family \u2026 when I\u2019m playing for England, I\u2019ll be singing God Save the King and be proud there. But Australia\u2019s my home. I love this country, and that\u2019s never, ever going to change.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he would relish the challenge of helping England try to win a series against Australia for the first time since 1970.<\/p>\n \u201cI know how important this Ashes series will be for England,\u201d he said. \u201cSo if I get lucky enough to get chosen in the squad, I\u2019m not going to leave any stone unturned.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s probably the biggest challenge so far in my international career. So I look forward to it. I\u2019m really disappointed in that [2022] World Cup year when we didn\u2019t get the chance to play in the final, when Samoa beat us in extra time.\u201d<\/p>\n NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now<\/a><\/p>\n