Sydney Roosters star Victor Radley is set to turn his back on Australia and a future home state jersey to represent arch rival England at the end of the World Cup.
Radley met with England coach Shaun Wane during his recent trip to Australia and RFL officials confirmed that the Roosters striker had now declared his eligibility and determination to push for his inclusion. in the World Cup selection.
If selected for England, Radley would no longer qualify to represent Australia, as players cannot switch between top-tier nations and therefore would not be eligible to play Origin for NSW either.
Radley qualifies for England through his father, Nigel, who is from Sheffield, home of the last of England’s three group matches in the competition, against Greece on 29 October.
Roosters striker Victor Radley has pledged his loyalty to the test in England © NRL Photos
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to play in England for my old man. Everyone wants to do the right thing with their dad, right?
“The father is proud of where he is, proud of his family, proud to support Sheffield Wednesday.
“It was an instinctive feeling that’s what I want to do, and with the World Cup in England later this year, it was now or never.
“If I ended up sitting there watching the World Cup and knowing I could have been playing in England, that wouldn’t have felt good to me.”
England coach Shaun Wane spent some time in Australia earlier this year and oversees performances in the NRL as closely as those in Betfred’s Super League.
“I’ve always said I’m open to selecting players who want to represent their English heritage, but they have to be excellent in their position and 100% committed,” the England coach said.
“I value Victor Radley very well as a player, and he is a great addition to the options we have in a position where we have very strong contenders. We need quality in depth in all positions, and Victor is a great addition to that.
“He is now joining the group that we already have playing in the NRL and that will be part of our preparations for the World Cup.
“We are in regular contact, sharing a lot of information with them, to make sure they are all ready to be part of our team if they are selected.”
Radley played the Junior Kangaroos in 2019 against France © NRL Photos
Radley was a member of the Roosters team that won major consecutive NRL finals in 2018 and 2019, and the 2019 and 2020 World Club Challenge against Wigan and St Helens.
He played in the Junior Kangaroos against France in 2019 and was a member of NSW’s expanded team for Origin II in Perth, but did not play.