Victor Radley’s new-look Roosters forward pack ready to explode in Round 1
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Victor Radley will lead a somewhat new-look forward pack in the opening round of the season, with some big names missing and a star recruit confirmed for his Roosters debut.
Brandon Smith’s arrival at Bondi has led to plenty of excitement, with the premiership-winning Kiwi set to line up in the No.9 jumper and add plenty of spark to the side’s attack.
Elsewhere in the middle of the field, experienced rep forwards Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Angus Crichton will both be missing in action, while young second-rower Sitili Tupouniua remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Speaking to The Sporting News at the recent Fox League season launch, Radley was eager to get back out on the field in Round 1 and right some wrongs from their finals exit against South Sydney in 2022.
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“We look back, we learn our lessons and now we want to take them and put them into action,” he said.
“We learned some really good lessons from that game, as disappointing as it was, but we will be better for it.
“We want to make sure our ruck defence is on point. In attack, just keep gelling – seeing what Brandon is seeing so we can all react together, and then getting Sam [Walker] and Kez [Luke Keary] back in the team is going to be good for us and we’ll start building from there.
“We have the best system in place and we’re the hardest workers. Number one in defence is going to be key and I think we have the best defensive system.”
Radley is expected to form an explosive combination with Smith through the middle of the field this year, but it will take some time for the pair to hit their straps.
The 24-year-old lock-forward believes that Smith is going to take his own game to the next level.
“I look forward to playing next to Brandon,” Radley said.
“We had a couple of little trial games and he’s been good. I’m looking forward to this week and building a combination with him as a team and really gelling with him, I think he will be massive for us.
“I think learning to read what he reads is going to be massive. When he goes and I go too, that’s going to be good for me and he will be smashing blokes in D.
“He’s going to be massive for our whole team and our whole power game and how we want to play, and he’s only going to be beneficial for me.”
The other fresh face in the starting pack this weekend will be Egan Butcher, who is tasked with replacing the aforementioned Crichton in the second-row.
For the first time, the Roosters will start with both Egan and older brother Nat Butcher on the edges, and Radley is eagerly anticipating the new-look back-row.
“I’m not sure what exact round he will be back or whatever, but he [Crichton] is fit and he is healthy,” Radley said.
“He is good, he is working on his stuff and I’m sure he will be back sooner rather than later.
“He [Egan Butcher] is such a good bloke, he is hilarious and he is good to have in your team. Everyone wants to be around him and to help him…he is a beast.
“Butcher on each edge and they are polar opposites really – one is a stiff and Egan is hilarious and a bit of a ball-tearer.
“It’s good to have both of them on the edge and I’m sure big Blakey Butch will be proud.”
Radley and the Roosters will take on the NRL’s newest club the Dolphins in the opening round on Sunday, March 5th in Redcliffe.
Fox League is available to watch on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.