Victor Radley is no stranger to the NRL’s sin bin, and it cost his team dearly when he was reacquainted with it on Thursday night.
The Roosters firebrand rushed out of the defensive line to put pressure on Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster during the first half, but ended up putting the shoulder into his opponent well after the latter had passed the ball.
Radley was rightly sin-binned by referee Ashley Klein for what Cameron Smith labelled a “lazy” play, and it proved a turning point in the eventual 28-8 Storm victory.
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“You can’t do that. That was late. It’s just silly,” Andrew Johns said on Nine.
“You see Munster passes, (then) he relaxes.”
Melbourne great Billy Slater reckoned it could have warranted a send off.
”He’s lucky it was just 10 minutes in the bin,” Slater said.
“That was really late and there was no attempt to tackle.”
His Chooks were leading 8-6 at AAMI Park, but in the time the feisty lock was off the field Melbourne struck twice, through Nick Meaney and then Munster.
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Meaney converted both tries and by the time Radley’s punishment was up, the Storm led 18-8.
Radley cut a dejected figure when Nine’s cameras spied him in the dressing rooms at half time.
“I think the Roosters will be frustrated. He threw a forward pass just before this,” Brad Fittler said.
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