More

Victor Radley hit with 'heaviest sanction in Roosters history'

Updated
Victor Radley during the Sydney Roosters' Round 19 game against St George Illawarra Dragons.
Victor Radley during the Sydney Roosters' Round 19 game against St George Illawarra Dragons. BRENDON THORNE / Getty Images via AFP
The ball-playing forward has been hit with a ten-game internal suspension and a $30,000 fine by the Sydney Roosters in response to his alleged request for an illegal substance from South Sydney's Brandon Smith.

Smith appeared at Southport Magistrates Court in Queensland on Thursday and is facing allegations from police that he supplied cocaine to Radley in the Sunshine Coast suburb of Currimundi in early July in addition to charges of using or supplying inside knowledge for the purposes of betting. 

He did not speak in court nor enter a plea and the matter has been adjourned.

Radley is not facing charges from Queensland Police and no suggestions of any wrongdoing on his part have been made. 

His $30,000 fine will be paid to the St Vincent's Hospital as part of his reparations and Radley made a public statement on Thursday evening to accept what the Roosters have described as the "heaviest sanction ever imposed on a player in the club's history". 

"I want to sincerely apologise to the club, my teammates, our sponsors, members and fans for the negative spotlight I have brought on the Roosters," Radley stated.

"I accept the sanctions in full and will work hard to earn back the trust and respect of everyone who supports this great club."

The sanctions come hours after the leaking of text messages in which Smith allegedly disclosed to an unnamed friend that he would be starting hooker in South Sydney's Round 18 match against Manly and encouraged the recipient(s) of the message to bet on him to score a try at inflated odds. 

It would be Smith's first and only starting appearance of 2025.

21+ | COMPETENT REGULATOR EEEP | RISK OF ADDICTION & LOSS OF PROPERTY | KETHEA HELPLINE: 210 9237777 | PLAY RESPONSIBLY & SAFELY |

Do you want to withdraw your consent to display betting ads?
Yes, change settings