Radley learns grand final fate after ugly hip-drop
Victor Radley has narrowly escaped missing the NRL grand final, slapped with a $3000 fine for a hip drop tackle on Herbie Farnworth in the Roosters’ 36-20 preliminary final victory over the Dolphins.
The Roosters star was placed on report in the 29th minute after conceding a penalty when he tackled Farnworth from behind.
Radley has been fined for his hip drop tackle on Farnworth. Nine
He was then penalised again for a high shot – also on Farnworth.
On Saturday morning, Radley was hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge, and he will be free to play the grand final against the winner of Sunday’s other prelim between the Panthers and Knights.
Dolphins players Isaiya Katoa and Morgan Knowles were also slapped with grade one charges for their penalties during the match, receiving fines of $750 and $3,000 respectively.
Radley faced a nervous wait on Saturday morning given his history with the MRC this season. He has been charged six times, but was handed a lenient penalty due to Farnworth not being seriously injured in the tackle.
Farnworth was able to play out of the rest of the game freely and even Roosters coach Trent Robinson was confident Radley had nothing to worry about, pointing out his first contact was with the ground rather than Farnworth’s legs.
“Because he went to his knees before there was weight on that,” Robinson said in the post-game press conference when asked about the tackle.
“That’s how I saw it. There wasn’t any force on that.
“So I’d say he’d be right on that.”
The Roosters raced away with a win at Suncorp Stadium, booking their first grand final appearance since the 2019 premiership.
