Roosters welcome back Radley, Walker for crucial clash with Dragons

4 hours ago 1

Sydney Roosters enforcer Victor Radley is yet to resume full-contact training after being sidelined by a head knock, but has been named along with star half Sam Walker for the match against St George Illawarra at Kogarah on Saturday.

Radley hasn’t played since he suffered a blow to the head in the Roosters’ 12-8 win in Newcastle on June 14, sitting out two games and a bye week.

It was the 27-year-old’s second concussion this season and the seventh time he has failed a head-injury assessment in the past four years.

Questioned on Tuesday about Radley’s prospects of playing this weekend, winger Daniel Tupou said the England international had shown no ill-effects at training.

But when asked if the crash-tackling lock had joined in contact sessions, Tupou replied: “Not yet, but he’s tracking really well. He’s in good hands with our physios and medical staff.”

Walker last played in the NRL on September 1. He was preparing to return last month following a 40-minute NSW Cup hit-out against Parramatta at Kellyville Oval on June 8.

Victor Radley has been cleared to return from a concussion lay-off on Saturday.

But he then suffered a broken thumb at training that required surgery, delaying his top-grade comeback by a further month.

“He’s training really well, and I’m sure if he gets named this week, he’ll slot in and do a great job,” Tupou said of Walker.

Walker has been named to partner rookie Hugo Savala in the halves, with Sandon Smith omitted from the 17.

The Roosters will also welcome back Billy Smith from a knee injury and their five State of Origin representatives - Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, Robert Toia and Spencer Leniu - all of whom missed last week’s 30-28 loss to Wests Tigers.

Sam Walker tore his ACL last season in the countdown to the finals.

That result left the Roosters ninth on the ladder and facing a battle to make the finals. They will probably need at least five wins from their remaining nine games to qualify.

Tupou, who has appeared in 10 finals campaigns during his 16-season career, has no doubt Trent Robinson’s new-look team is “heading in the right direction.”

“We’re on the fringe, and we’ve just got to keep winning games … we’re tracking really well and our mindset is this weekend and one game at a time,” he said.

In other team news, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has left the door ajar for his five Origin stars - Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards - to play against Parramatta at Commbank Stadium on Sunday by naming them all on an extended bench.

They will all be assessed after Wednesday’s interstate series decider, but with Penrith clinging to sixth position, Cleary may be less inclined to rest them than he has been in previous seasons.

Parramatta’s major change is the inclusion of Tallyn Da Silva, who joined them last week from Wests Tigers, to make his club debut off the bench.

Meanwhile, Canterbury have named Lachlan Galvin in jersey No.17 to face the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday, after starting him at five-eighth in last week’s 22-18 loss to Brisbane.

Toby Sexton, who signed last week to join Catalans Dragons in Super League, was selected at halfback, alongside Matt Burton in the halves.

NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now

Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.