Sydney Roosters have knocked off the Dolphins to make it to the 2026 NRL Grand Final, however, England enforcer Victor Radley might not be available for next week’s big dance.

The Roosters will play either Penrith Panthers or Newcastle Knights, who face off in the second preliminary final on Sunday, with Trent Robinson’s side booking their place in the Grand Final after a comfortable win over Kristian Woolf’s side.

What will not be comfortable is the nervous wait to find out if Victor Radley is available for the Grand Final with the England and Origin forward put on report for a hip drop-style tackle on fellow countryman Herbie Farnworth.

There was a sense of surprise that no immediate action was taken in response to the challenge, though it was placed on report and will now be scrutinised by the NRL judiciary.

Given Radley’s chequered past in respect to disciplinary matters, which has seen him charged a whopping four times this year, it’s possible that he will be banned and thus ruled out of a third Grand Final.

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Victor Radley sweating ban after Roosters make it to NRL Grand Final

The Roosters had an end-of-season wobble in form, ceding first place and eventually finishing fourth. They’d lose their first play-off game which forced them to go the long way around, knocking off Cronulla and now the Dolphins, who they beat 36-20.

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Playing on the road, it was the Roosters who took the lead as they scored three tries in quick succession to open up a 16-0 lead thanks to tries from Mark Nawaqanitawase , Radley and Daniel Tupou.

Jamayne Issako hit back before the break and scored just minutes after to make it 16-10 but the Roosters were not to be denied as they scored four tries in the next 20 minutes to put the game beyond all doubt.

Origin man Robert Toia scored the first of those before Lindsay Collins, Nawaqanitawase and Leeds-born Sam Walker all crossed over to make it 36-10.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and England star Herbie Farnworth would score consolation tries in the 74th and 76th minute but it was too little too late, with the Phins first season of play-off rugby coming to a close one game shy of the Grand Final.

Attention will now turn to not only Sunday’s semi-final but the judiciary as Victor Radley waits to see if he will be available for the Grand Final. A multi-game ban would also have implications for England as well as it would carry over, meaning he may end up being unavailable for Brian McDermott if he cops a multiple game ban.

ONE GAME FROM GLORY 🐓 #NRL #NRLFinals pic.twitter.com/da5Mgg9exH

— NRL (@NRL) September 25, 2026