GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: Gruesome moment Victor Radley bleeds heavily from the face after huge head knock as the Roosters maintained top-eight surge with a resounding win over the Broncos
- Victor Radley suffered a nasty gash during the Roosters’ win over Brisbane
- The Roosters star went into a head-on collision with Broncos star Jake Turpin
- Blood gushed out of Radley’s forehead and he required medical attention
- Radley played on until the 63rd minute as the Roosters secured a big victory
Victor Radley required medical attention after suffering a nasty head injury as the Sydney Roosters threw Brisbane‘s premiership credentials further into question at the SCG.
With the Roosters looking to make ground in front of their own try line, Radley flew into a head-to-head collision with Broncos star Jake Turpin and blood was seen gushing from his forehead as he went to ground.
After receiving medical attention and being bandaged up, Radley was sent back out onto the pitch and continued playing until the 63rd minute, when he was withdrawn for Matthew Lodge.
WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT BELOW.
The Roosters’ win puts them well in the mix for a spot in the top eight, and Thursday night’s victory means Manly (10th) and St. George Illawarra (11th) will both trail the Roosters by a game and points differential even if they win their own round 21 matches, which are against sides higher than them on the ladder.
The Broncos failed to bounce back from last week’s shock loss to the Wests Tigers and could slump as low as seventh by the end of the weekend.
The Roosters scored six tries to Brisbane’s three and inflicted the bulk of the damage in the opening exchanges, ridding themselves of the errors that marred last week’s win to keep pace with the clock for the first 18 minutes.
Victor Radley suffered a nasty gash after going into a head-on collision with Jake Turpin
The chemistry of halves Luke Keary and Sam Walker is looking stronger than ever, thanks in no small part to Keary’s switch back to five-eighth.
Keary made the kick that put the Roosters in position to score their first try, before Walker chipped from halfback to give Nat Butcher their second.
Even without concussed State of Origin representative Lindsay Collins, the Roosters’ forward pack rolled forward more easily than their Brisbane counterparts, who missed the suspended Patrick Carrigan.
A typically workman-like performance from James Tedesco (252 run metres) helped the Roosters win the battle for territory for most of the night.
Three tries down, the Broncos scored through Corey Oates in their first foray into enemy territory and were welcomed back when errors began creeping into the Roosters’ game.
Both sides blew chances in the second half, as greasy conditions began taking their toll.
Radley required medical attention but was able to continue playing until the 63rd minute
But when Keary cut through the defence with a crafty individual effort, the Roosters’ win was confirmed with just over 10 minutes to play.
The Broncos have now conceded more than 30 points on six occasions this year, including twice in the past fortnight, and will need to tighten their defence to make any kind of impact in the finals.
A top-four finish is not yet out of reach, though; Brisbane will rate all four of their remaining matches against Newcastle, Melbourne, Parramatta and St George Illawarra as winnable.
Roosters hooker Sam Verrills left the field for a head injury assessment late in the second half and did not return.
Brisbane winger Selwyn Cobbo returned from the concussion he suffered in the State of Origin decider but had limited opportunities as the Broncos favoured the opposite wing in attack.
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