Roosters enforcer Victor Radley cost his side two tries, the lead, and likely the game over a “totally unnecessary” late hit on Storm star Cameron Munster.
Radley was binned for the lazy late shot which floored Munster in the 27th minute in Melbourne on Thursday night.
“Victor has made contact considerably late and there is no attempt to tackle, you’re in the bin for 10,” referee Ashley Klein said to Roosters captain Luke Keary before turning to Radley.
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There was no argument from Keary and Radley appeared to yell “f**k” as he walked off the field.
“It’s a bump, what we’ve witnessed there from Victor, it’s certainly not his hardest,” Andrew Voss said on Fox league
“I’m certainly not defending him because it was a silly act, it was ill-discipline, he didn’t have to do this.
“But if he was seriously going after him with a shoulder charge, he puts him into the first row.”
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But NRL great Michael Ennis was ok with the decision and Greg Alexander blasted Radley’s lack of discipline.
“It’s late, the pass was well and truly gone and given what we’ve seen this season… that’s a sin bin,” Ennis said.
The Roosters were leading 8-6 when Radley was marched and the Storm led 18-8 by the time he came back on.
“The game took on a different complexion after the Victor Radley shot, it was late and he (Munster) was unaware,” Alexander said.
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“You can’t hit a player when he’s not looking. Even though there wasn’t a great deal of force in the shot, it was late enough to send him to the bin.
“It was totally unnecessary and put his team under pressure, the Melbourne Storm ran in two tries while he was off the field.”
The Storm lead 26-8 after 60 minutes.
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