Should representative players have Origin games count toward club-level suspensions?
That’s the question that SEN host Andrew Voss pondered after he uncovered that Roosters enforcer Victor Radley would serve just three NRL games from his five-game suspension dating back to Round 11 this season.
While Radley has never played an Origin game, it appears that the NRL have allowed two of his games to be served for Origin I and II as it was likely he would have been picked in Brad Fittler’s side.
“If you check the NRL website it has Victor Radley returning from his five-game ban in Round number 16,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“That means he’ll have served three NRL games, and had the first two Origin matches counted in his five-match suspension.
“This is despite not having played State of Origin before.”
Voss pointed out that other players like Canberra’s Josh Papalii and Sydney’s Angus Crichton were also allowed to serve their bans during Origin to help them return to the field earlier.
“There were exemptions made over the weekend, Josh Papalii was able to claim a game, Angus Crichton was able to claim an Origin game towards their respective suspensions," Voss said.
“That’s why Papalii came back for Canberra on Saturday night and also why Crichton was able to play against the Titans on Saturday afternoon.
“Experts of our own like Greg Alexander had never heard of that rule, that clubs could claim State of Origin matches towards bans.
“It was explained to me that yes, exemptions could be made, if it was an established representative player, and that proved to be given they were certain of selection.
“The coach would have to write, yes, this was our team and he was in it, so therefore you can claim an Origin game.
“Victor Radley an established representative player? He’s never played Origin before.
“It’s almost like this has been done via stealth, no one was to know, no one was to realise.”
Radley is set to return in Round 16 when Sydney host Melbourne, while Papalii and Crichton are free to play and available for selection for Origin II.