Roosters enforcer Victor Radley and the NRL is under fire after he was placed on report for an alleged headbutt in a melee sparked by a head slam on James Tedesco, but escaped the sin bin.
In the 16th minute with the Dragons leading the Roosters 12-0, Zac Lomax was penalised for a head slam action on Tedesco while trying to strip the ball.
Radley took exception to the tackle on Tedesco and confronted Lomax sparking an all-in scuffle.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
“Hello, Tedesco is dropped down by Lomax,” Andrew Voss said.
“He has done the suplex. Then there is some ball throwing. Then there is some push and shove and some jersey pulling.
“What started it all was aggressive, but we are not playing tiddlywinks out here. Is this tackle fair?”
“Yeah it’s fair,” Shane Flanagan replied.
“He slams him to the ground. The only doubt is does his head slam into the ground. Zac Lomax was trying to get the ball off him. He can’t do it and then he slams him into the ground.
“His head doesn’t hit the ground so I think it is fair play.”
MORE NRL NEWS
TRANSFER WHISPERS: Johnson rejects Tigers as Warriors star weighs up retirement
NSW VERDICT: Brutal call that could decide Freddy’s fate as SIX-way battle settled
ORIGIN SCOUT: Gould’s left-field Penrith solution to Blues selection logjam
‘JUST TRYING TO HELP’: Warriors boss breaks silence as Vatuvei’s role revealed
However, Voss noted on the replays that it appeared as though Radley used a headbutt in the scuffle.
“Hang on Radley, hang on a second,” Voss said.
“There is a little bit more to look at in that video. They are talking about a headbutt in that.
“Hang on a second. The penalty will go to the Roosters for a head slamming action, but the Dragons were claiming headbutt against Victor Radley.
“What happens the choking then pushed and then bang. They pointed again and it has been shown on the big screen here.
“That’s a flashpoint in this game 16 minutes in.”
FOX LEAGUE PODCAST – NICHO HYNES
The Sharks superstar joins Darcie McDonald to chat Indigenous Round, his rapid rise from working as a teacher’s aide in Mackay to winning the Dally M. He also reveals the sliding doors moment of his career. Listen now >>>
Dragons skipper Ben Hunt called for a send-off from referee Peter Gough.
“That is a headbutt,” Hunt said.
“That is a send-off. I know I am the captain and I’m allowed to talk to you.”
Gough turned Hunt away for the way he was speaking to the referee, before calling Radley out.
“The penalty is for what happened in the tackle with Zac Lomax,” Gough said.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
“You are leading with the head. It is on report.”
Voss believes Radley was very lucky not to be sin-binned.
“Leading with the head as opposed to a headbutt,” Voss said.
“He should go buy a lotto ticket. There is a chair in the sin bin with his name on it. He has dodged a bullet there.”
Greg Alexander and Cooper Cronk believe Radley should have been sin-binned based on what we have seen in 2023 so far.
“Have we stopped sin-binning people this week, are we just putting it in the back pocket preparing for I don’t know what?” Alexander asked.
“Any other day, Victor gets sin binned.”
“I agree because if you put the headbutt on report then it is a sin bin,” Cronk added.
“I don’t know if it was because Origin is just around the corner but there were a couple of incidents that probably warranted more.”
Social media lit up with reactions to Radley’s alleged headbutt.