Roosters star Radley ‘hurt’ by links to Smith case
George Clarke |
Trent Robinson says Victor Radley has been “hurt” by media speculation linking the Sydney Roosters lock and several other teammates to a police investigation into Brandon Smith.
New Zealand Test hooker Smith, who left the Roosters to join South Sydney midway through this season, is set to face charges of drug supply and an inside-knowledge betting offence and will appear in court on the Gold Coast on September 18.
Radley, who was on a golf trip in Queensland with six fellow Roosters players at the time of Smith’s alleged drug supply offence, has reportedly been mentioned in police documents.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Radley or any other Roosters players who attended the Sunshine Coast trip, which occurred during the club’s bye round.
Robinson took aim at the media coverage of the probe into Smith and said his players, including Radley, had been “wrongfully attached” to the case.
“He (Radley) was pretty hurt that night when the journalist called him (to say the story was about to break),” Robinson said.
“People’s integrity is at stake, so you need to make sure that you look after the integrity of the people involved and the club.
“Some people have been wrongly attached to things as well, so we’ve got to be careful.”
Roosters playmaker Chad Townsend posted a since-deleted vlog of the golf trip, which was attended by Radley, captain James Tedesco, Zach Dockar-Clay, Egan Butcher, Hugo Savala and Sandon Smith.
Robinson said speculation linking his players by association to any alleged illegal activity was damaging.
“It’s been really hard seeing the game about people connecting the dots on people,” he said.
“For example, Chad Townsend is a father of four kids and he gets put up as trying to connect the dots when he’s had an impeccable career and his integrity (cannot be questioned).
“This isn’t a game for these people – this is their lives, and their integrity is at stake. That’s the stuff that’s really disappointing.”
Robinson said the Roosters have yet to see the police documents that have named Radley, and revealed the club had no intention of standing down the English international.
The Roosters coach, whose side face Melbourne on Friday when a win would boost their hopes of a finish in the finals places, said they will not decide their next steps until Smith fronts court.
“We’re playing with what’s in front of us, and there’s nothing there at the moment,” Robinson said.
“I’ve heard that there will be at some point, September 18, or there will be some information, but nothing’s been presented to us at the moment.
“We’re not going to jump at shadows – we’re going to stay strong and do what we do, and that’s play on Friday night.”
AAP
