Victor Radley needed medical assistance after the Sydney Roosters star suffered a horrific head injury in his side’s 34-16 win over the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL.
As the Roosters looked to make ground in front of their own try line, Radley was involved in a ferocious head-to-head collision with Brisbane’s Jake Turpin. The contact was clearly heavy, as blood was seen gushing from Radley’s forehead as he fell to the floor at the SCG.
After he received medical attention and was bandaged up, the 24-year-old returned to the pitch with his outfit smeared in blood. He passed a HIA and was given strapping covering six stitches.
The cut above his eye briefly reopened just before half time, forcing Radley off the pitch once more for the cut to get attended to. He played until the 63rd minute when he made way for substitute Matthew Lodge.
Radley started the match excellently as he helped the Roosters to a dominant early lead against a poor Brisbane defence. The Roosters led by 18 after 20 minutes until Radley suffered his injury, and Fox League commentator Warren Smith said: “His shorts will certainly need some Napi-San.
“His shorts are now red, white, and more red!”
With two minutes remaining in the half, Radley tackled Broncos scorer Corey Oates and it reopened the cut, with the lock requiring further treatment. Smith added: “He’s always earned his money the hard way, hasn’t he? Victor the inflictor!”
Do you think Victor Radley should have been allowed to return to the pitch? Let us know in the comments section.
Sydney head coach Trent Robinson was hardly surprised by Radley’s toughness, declaring afterwards: “One thing he’s never been questioned on is his bravery and he would have happily stapled-gunned it on the field and stayed on.”
The Roosters' dominant win puts them in the mix for a spot in the top eight. The victory on Thursday night ensured Manly Sea Eagles and St. George Illawarra will both trail Sydney by a game and points differential even if they win their own round 21 matches, which are against sides above them in the table.
Ultimately, Sydney scored six tries to Brisbane's three and dominated the early exchanges. The crushing defeat meant the Broncos failed to bounce back after Brisbane suffered a shock loss to the Wests Tigers - and could slip to seventh by the end of the weekend.
