For all the pre-tournament criticism concerning England’s selection of Victor Radley at this year’s World Cup, you suspect the only person prouder than Radley when the national anthem plays inside Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon will be his father, Nigel.
The Sydney-born 24-year-old had no hesitation about choosing England when the call came from Shaun Wane, despite it meaning forfeiting a potential Australia callup and any chance of representing New South Wales in the State of Origin. Some felt that Radley being born in Australia meant he should not have been selected, but Radley’s desire and reasons for wanting to represent England convinced Wane. How shrewd a decision that has proven to be.
The Sydney Roosters lock has caught the eye in England’s opening two wins and while Saturday is likely to be a routine afternoon against debutants Greece in terms of the scoreboard, it will be anything but for Radley, who gets to play in the city where his father was born and raised before emigrating to Australia prior to Victor’s birth.
“It is personal for me, and really special,” Radley says. “It’s something I’m really looking forward to. When I chose to play for England, I looked forward to this Sheffield game and playing in front of my old man. Now it’s here, it’s a big occasion for the family but I’m going out to do my part for the team.”
Radley’s father, a dyed-in-the-wool Sheffield Wednesday supporter, flew in from Australia on Friday morning especially to see his son play in Sheffield, albeit at Bramall Lane rather than his beloved Hillsborough. There are dozens of Radley’s friends and family expected to be in attendance too. For someone who has shown a granite-like resilience in an England shirt so far, Radley is not afraid to let his mask slip off the field when it comes to discussing the importance of the occasion.
“I am quite emotional to be honest,” Radley says. “Probably not to my dad, I’m not going to go kiss him and hug him or anything like that! But I’m an emotional person and it’s something I’ve thought about. Hearing what they’ve spoken about as a family, I know I’ve made the right decision in picking England.”
Radley has taken the time to learn more about his father’s upbringing during his time in England, too. Nigel was born in Sheffield but raised in the nearby town of Hoyland, where his grandparents also resided until they died. “When I first got to England I stayed in Sheffield for a few days, and we went to the Hare and Hounds pub in Hoyland for a big feed,” Radley says.
“I met my grandma once and my grandad – who was a miner – a few times, but they’ve passed away now. They both lived in Hoyland and when I was in the pub, a lot of people knew them and that was special. I think I’m going to put the jersey from the Samoa game [Radley’s Test debut] up in the working men’s club in Hoyland.”
New Zealand ran in 10 tries to secure top spot in Group C with a 48-10 win over Ireland at Headingley. Ed Chamberlain kicked the Wolfhounds into a surprise early lead but the world's top-ranked team roared back with returning half-back Jahrome Hughes getting the first try, then setting up two scores for Peta Hiku and one for Jordan Rapana.
The Kiwis led 24-6 at half time and continued to dominate despite Jared Waerea-Hargreaves' yellow card just before the interval. Hughes [pictured] and Rapana scored their second tries, with Ronaldo Mulitalo, James Fisher-Harris, Kenny Bromwich and Joey also touching down. Will Senior went over for Ireland once in each half, taking his tournament try tally to six.
Michael Maguire's Irish side are now facing an early exit from the tournament, unless Lebanon slip to an unexpected loss against Jamaica on Sunday in the final game of the group.
With England winning their opening two group games and securing qualification for the quarter-finals, Wane has rotated his side to face Greece, who are already eliminated after two defeats. Radley, however, had no intention of being rested.
“I said to Waney I’d be happy to do whatever the team needs me to do but I’ve got like 60 people coming from all over the world for this game to Sheffield,” he says. “Waney has been really good and he said he wouldn’t do that to me, so he’s got me playing this week. But I just want to play every game for England.”
Wane had made it clear in the runup to the tournament it would be difficult for him to be persuaded to select an Australian-born player. While Radley’s on-field performances have confirmed to everyone it was the right decision, the 24-year-old says he had also done his bit to show Wane he was desperate to represent his father’s heritage.
“I knew Waney wanted English players and players that wanted to play for England so when I spoke to him I made sure I let him know I really wanted to play for England for the right reasons,” he says. “I know he’d done his research on me with people I’d met before and I’m grateful Shaun gave me a shot. He took the time to learn about me and pick me, and I did the same.”
However, Radley is not just here for a catchup with family and friends. The manner of England’s opening two victories have left some believing they can challenge Australia and even have a tilt at winning the World Cup. Radley is in no doubt about his side’s prospects. “I know we can match the best teams,” he says. “I’ve been blown away with how resilient and mentally strong this side is.
“I knew they’d have that in them anyway but jeez, it’s part of the culture to go hard, isn’t it? I love that. That’s why I think we’re going to win it. That and the belief we’ve got for each other. Saturday is going to be a proud moment for me, to play here for my family and it’s going to be something I look back on for the rest of my life. I’m happy I’ve done it for this.”
