The Sydney Roosters player turned down the chance to play for NSW in State of Origin in order to represent England at the World Cup, according to Victor Radley’s father.
The 24-year-old Radley believed his prospects of ever donning the Sky Blues uniform would be limited by players like Isaah Yeo, Cameron Murray, and Jake Trbojevic.
With his old man’s roots in Sheffield making him eligible to play for the Three Lions, a conversation between England head coach Shaun Wane and former Tricolours halfback Adrian Lam set the wheels in action.
Luke Keary, a teammate who played for Ireland in the World Cup in the UK, advised the lock forward to “go with his gut.”
Despite being born in Australia, the two-time NRL premiership winner subsequently swore allegiance to England, and he has excelled in pool victories over Samoa, Greece, and France.
When the hosts play Papua New Guinea in their World Cup quarterfinal on Sunday [AEDT] at 1.30am [AEDT] at DW Stadium in Wigan, he will once again be a key player.
“I was like, if that’s your call, just don’t do it half-heartedly,” Nigel Radley remarked.
“Ruling oneself out of [State of] Origin was a big decision.”Although my parents are no longer with us, my father would have been extremely proud of him.
Dad was a huge sports fan. I wish he had been able to watch him represent England.
In addition, Nigel Radley feels that his son, a junior player for the Clovelly Crocodiles, is a victim of his own brutal tackling style, which has led to numerous NRL suspensions in the previous two years.
It’s impossible to alter his style of play. Every now and again, he will make a mistake, he said to the Daily Telegraph.
That’s just how the game works. I never see him entering the room with any dog or high shots.
He attacks the man head-on.
Australia, meanwhile, defeated Lebanon 48–4 to become the first team to advance to the World Cup semifinals.
The most notable player in the rout at Huddersfield was Josh Addo-Carr, a winger who finished with five tries.
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