Roosters enforcer Victor Radley has been charged by the NRL match review committee for the sixth time this season, marking the 25th instance in his career. However, the State of Origin player has once again avoided suspension, receiving only a fine.
Radley received a report in the 70th minute during the Roosters' surprising 25-24 defeat to the Wests Tigers on Sunday, where he struck Patrick Herbert high with his shoulder. The impact left Herbert down, prompting the Bunker to intervene and award a penalty.
On Monday, the match review committee issued Radley a Grade 1 careless high tackle charge, which carries a $3000 fine if he enters an early guilty plea. This is Radley's fourth Grade 1 charge, but he only faces a ban for Grade 2 offenses.
This year marks the sixth time Radley has faced charges, adding to a total that began in 2017 over 176 games. He now surpasses former Roosters teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (38 charges) and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (26) in total charges. Radley's latest charge pushes him past Josh McGuire (24), although he is the only active player among them.
It remains uncertain whether Radley will participate in Round 26 against the Dolphins, as he was sent for a head injury assessment in the game's final moments, delaying the outcome announcement. Reports suggested he might have been rested before the Tigers match, but the loss means Trent Robinson's team will aim for a comeback with their strongest lineup.
Teammate Siua Wong was also fined $1000 for a careless high tackle, with Tigers halfback Jock Madden receiving the same penalty.
Additionally, several teams faced suspension issues in Round 25, most notably the Panthers, who lost five-eighth Jack Cogger to a three-game ban for a high tackle on Tyran Wishart, sidelining him for the first week of the finals.
The Knights experienced a double suspension hit with Dom Young and Tyson Frizell both receiving one-game bans for hip-drop tackles against Tolu Koula and Tom Trbojevic in their match versus Manly.
Bulldogs winger Jonathan Sua also received a one-game ban for a hip-drop tackle during their win over the Dragons, meaning he will miss the critical Round 26 clash against Penrith as the Bulldogs seek to secure a spot in the top eight.