Not many would willingly trade Bondi Beach for the outskirts of Barnsley in mid-October, but for Victor Radley, his annual month-long trip to England is the highlight of his year. The 26-year-old NRL regular caused a stir two years ago when he chose to represent his Sheffield-born father and pledge allegiance to England, rather than pursue an Australia call-up. Some speculated it might be a one-time affair, given the allure of playing in a World Cup. However, for the third consecutive year, Radley dons the England jersey.
It's mostly been a pleasure for Radley, immersing himself in English culture, catching up with friends and family in the south Yorkshire village of Crane Moor, and visiting Hillsborough to watch Sheffield Wednesday. But on Sunday, the focus shifts to business as England host Samoa in Wigan in the first of two autumn Tests—with revenge on the agenda. The extra-time defeat to Samoa in the 2022 World Cup semi-final still stings for English fans, and Radley is no exception. "The memories of that day aren’t great," he says. "I threw the intercept, which lost us the game, so it puts a dampener on that experience and tournament for me."
Radley nearly missed the autumn internationals due to a shoulder injury sustained while playing for the Sydney Roosters, but having been cleared, his presence in the squad is crucial. England aims to replicate last year’s series whitewash against Tonga on home soil, before gearing up for the 2026 World Cup. An Ashes tour next year will test the readiness of this young, exciting England squad, with Radley undeniably at its core.
Traveling to play on the other side of the world can be isolating, but Radley has fully embraced the English way of life. "It really means a lot to be here and to represent my family," he says. "I absolutely love it so much here. It’s a good laugh, just all the local farm shops, the pubs, and the locals. There’s always someone cracking jokes everywhere you go. It’s hilarious. It’s very different to back home, that’s for sure. I love coming to England, the culture in this country is something I view so fondly."
Could Super League fans one day see one of the NRL’s premier forwards grace the competition? "100%," Radley says, smiling. "I’ve already spoken to my partner about it. We’ve got kids, but I know she would love it as well over here. It’s something I want to do at some point in my career." But any further social visits to south Yorkshire or thoughts of playing club rugby here have been put on hold for the next fortnight. For now, it’s about taking the next step for Radley and this developing squad.
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
