- Roosters chairman drugs stance
- Radley was never charged, also no proof he used drugs
Sydney Roosters boss Nick Politis has revealed why he broke his zero-tolerance stance on drugs to keep Victor Radley at the NRL club.
It comes as England coach Shaun Wane confirmed he will pick Radley to line up against Australia in the upcoming Ashes series if he’s fit and healthy.
Radley, 27, appeared to be on borrowed time at the Tricolours after a leaked police fact sheet revealed alleged texts between the two-time premiership winner, his former teammate Brandon Smith and a man who is accused of drug dealing.
The club favourite has not been charged with any offence and Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Radley obtained or took illegal drugs when on a golf trip at Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in June.
Given the spate of negative headlines, it was widely assumed Radley had played his last game for the club, given Politis had previously said, ‘My view is if somebody’s caught doing cocaine or leaning over snorting something, we’re doing to get rid of them.
‘Our stance is zero tolerance. We are very strong on it.’
Sydney Roosters boss Nick Politis (pictured, with James Tedesco) has revealed why he broke his zero-tolerance stance on drugs to keep Victor Radley at the NRL club
It comes as England coach Shaun Wane confirmed if Radley is ‘fit and healthy’ he will be picked to line up against Australia in the upcoming Ashes series
Now Politis has explained why Radley won’t be at a rival NRL outfit or the Super League in 2026 and beyond.
‘Option one was to sack him,’ Politis told News Corp.
‘But while he has brought the club into disrepute, there is no proof that Victor snorted cocaine. He hasn’t been charged with anything.’
Radley hasn’t escaped sanction – he was handed a 10-game suspension and will also pass on $30,000 to cancer research at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.
Given Radley’s annual salary is believed to around the $750,000 mark, the 10-game ban – during which he won’t be paid – equates to about $140,000 in lost wages.
Additionally, it was agreed Radley wouldn’t attend the club’s presentation night on Thursday at Allianz Stadium.
While some footy fans will argue Radley should have been sacked, the penalty is the largest issued to a Roosters player in the club’s history dating back to 1908.
And in Politis’s eyes, it sends a clear message.
Radley looked to be on borrowed time at the Tricolours after leaked texts allegedly implicated the two-time premiership winner in a drug scandal involving former teammate Brandon Smith
In comparison, Brisbane star Ezra Mam was banned for nine games after he drove with cocaine in his system and without a licence last October after he had a head-on collision with another vehicle that left a four-year-girl injured.
Mam was fined a total of $120,000 jointly by the NRL and Broncos.
A contrite Radley has also agreed to sign a legal paper confirming he accepts his punishment.
‘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,’ he said in a statement.
‘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 Daily Mail contacted the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) for comment regarding Radley’s sanction.
