Late Mail, semi-finals, ins and outs, changes, injuries, Victor Radley, Roosters vs Sea Eagles, Sharks vs Cowboys #adessonews

Victor Radley is preparing to make a shock return and the Roosters are reportedly confident the back rower will take the field against the Sea Eagles on Saturday.

That is according to The Daily Telegraph, who are reporting that if Radley has no stumbling blocks between now and the game, the English international will be named on the bench.

Siua Wong will reportedly make way from the pine, with Radley returning only three weeks after fracturing his scalpula against the Raiders.

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Radley delayed surgery to the end of the season in a bid to return for the finals and was named in the reserves for the semi-final at Allianz Stadium.

Braith Anasta revealed he had spoken to Roosters chairman Nick Politis about Radley’s return bid.

“The Roosters have named Victor Radley on the extended bench,” Anasta said on NRL 360.

“I spoke to Nick Politis today and Radley is preparing to play this week.

Paul Crawley compared Radley’s injury to Cooper Cronk’s 2018 Grand Final heroics, but with one key difference in the position they play.

“It’s a big call, it is the same injury as Cooper Cronk had going into the 2018 Grand Final,” Crawley said.

“The difference is Cronk played that overseeing manager sort of role and Luke Keary took the reins of the team that day.

“Victor Radley is a bruising back-rower that can’t protect his shoulders. So if he takes the field there is no excuses because they have got good back-rowers there.”

However, Gorden Tallis believes Radley is one of the toughest players in the game and won’t need any excuses.

“Victor won’t come up with an excuse, if he plays he will put his body on the line,” Tallis said.

“We saw what Nathan Cleary did the other day. He went out there and tackled everybody. If Victor goes and plays, he will just go and do what Victor does.”

However, Anasta warned the Roosters risk losing an interchange if Radley’s shoulder doesn’t aim up in the game and they open themselves up defensively.

“It is a tricky one whether he plays or not because he plays so tough,” Anasta said.

“It has been three weeks. Look at the way he plays and he has got a fractured scapula.

“The problem with this is he could go out and in the first tackle he goes, its no good. Then he’s out for the match and you have got one less on the interchange.

“So it is a decision that Trent Robinson, Victor Radley and the medical staff need to make. I think they will give him until Friday, but it is a big call.”

Read on for the Late Mail for the NRL semi-finals.

SEMI-FINALS

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20

Sharks vs Cowboys at Allianz Stadium, 7.50pm AEST