Victor Radley, the interchange forward for the NSW Blues, has opened up about his tumultuous journey over the past year, which included a significant suspension with the Sydney Roosters and the remarkable achievement of making his State of Origin debut in Game 1.
In September, Radley faced a severe penalty-a 10-match suspension without pay-due to an off-field scandal that put the Roosters in a difficult light, setting a club record.
However, the club later acknowledged his efforts in the England Ashes and preseason games as having been satisfactory under their sanction, allowing him to return after just five NRL matches this year.
In a fortunate twist, a rule change in February regarding Tier 1 nation eligibility for Origin enabled Radley to represent England and become a viable option for the Blues.
Following a standout performance in his debut game, Radley now stands just 80 minutes away from potentially clinching the series in Melbourne on Wednesday.
"You know I didn't think I'd be here," Radley stated in an interview with Channel 7's Agenda Setters: Rugby League.
"Obviously, the rule was in place, I couldn't play Origin but I always believed I'd be black painting the NRL and playing for the Roosters and that was kind of my focus and you know I think you know it was a bit of a kick up the backside that I needed and I've worked really hard so yeah I'm proud that I'm here now."
Radley made a highly-anticipated appearance off the interchange bench in Game 1, contributing 51 minutes, where he recorded 93 run metres and delivered some impactful defensive hits.
Despite a challenging first half due to a strong Queensland Maroons performance, the Blues capitalized on Kalyn Ponga's send-off, leading to a thrilling 22-20 victory in the final moments of the match.