No pay: Radley smacked with 10-match ban for Smith link

The Roosters have issued historic sanctions on Victor Radley for bringing the club into disrepute over his alleged involvement with the court case against former teammate Brandon Smith.

Radley will be banned for 10 matches without pay as a result of his alleged connection with the case as well as a $30,000 fine.

Smith was charged by Queensland police with one count of supplying dangerous drugs and one count of using or disclosing inside knowledge for betting.

Queensland police allege Smith contacted a drug dealer on the Sunshine Coast in order to supply an illicit drug to Victor Radley and other Roosters teammates on June 7.

Radley has not been charged and there is no evidence to suggest he obtained or took illicit drugs, but a series of damning text messages allegedly sent between the pair have put his future at the Roosters in doubt.

A Roosters statement said: "The Sydney Roosters are aware of references in the media to communications allegedly between Sydney Roosters player Victor Radley and others in relation to allegedly obtaining an illegal substance.

"While Radley has not been charged by Queensland Police, the references in the media to communications allegedly between him and others have brought the Sydney Roosters into disrepute.

"Consequently, following internal discussions with senior club officials and a meeting of the Roosters Board of Directors, the Club will impose the following sanctions on Radley for the negative attention the allegations have brought to the Club:

"A 10-match suspension, without pay. A $30,000 donation to be made to St Vincent’s Hospital (for cancer research).

"This represents the heaviest sanction ever imposed on a player in the Club’s history."

Victor Radley accepted the sanctions and apologised.

“I want to sincerely apologise to the Club, my teammates, our sponsors, Members and fans for the negative spotlight I have brought on the Roosters," he said.

"I accept the sanctions in full and will work hard to earn back the trust and respect of everyone who supports this great Club,” said Radley.

Reacting to the news on air, Justin Horo agreed with the punishment but noted that it was large considering he had not being caught using or in possession of any illicit substance.

“I like it,” Horo said on SEN 1170’s The Run Home.

“It’s a big fine and a big punishment for actually not getting caught for doing something.

“It’s a bit of a wake-up call for Rads (Radley).”

SEN's Matty Johns also gave his reaction to the sanction.

Johns said he was glad that, depsite Radley's poor actions, that the club at this stage will keep him on their books and give him a second chance.

“It’s a game of second chances, right?” Johns pointed out on SEN 1170 Drive.

“With Victor, and people will go, ‘Oh, you don’t want to make excuses, and I’m retired enough and away from the game to be able to make constructive criticisms, but every time I’ve met him, he’s a sweetheart and I’m really happy with the Roosters, although they have hit him with a big stick, they haven’t shown him the door.

“He’s a local junior, he loves the club and he wouldn’t look right in any other jersey.”

In January this year, Roosters supremo Nick Politis said: "if somebody’s caught doing cocaine or leaning over snorting something, we’re going to get rid of them.”

Radley, in recent days, has been connected to a potential move away from the Tricolours, with it being reported that the club has told the English representative's management to see if there is any interest in his signature.

Some of the clubs interested include Super League side St Helens and RFL Championship side London Broncos, which have recently been purchased by an Australian consortium that has Darren Lockyer involved as an owner.

More to come.