Australia are not weakened: Victor Radley backs Kangaroos to shine

England’s Victor Radley has rubbished talk that Australia have been weakened by so many NRL stars opting to represent their country of heritage at the World Cup.

The Sydney Roosters forward has pledged his allegiance to England for whom he qualifies through his father, with Samoa, Tonga and Fiji all boasting their strongest ever sides.

“Samoa have got a good side,” he said.

“There’s a lot of good sides here but we’re a good side. We’re going to go win the World Cup. That’s the plan. My first phone call with Waney (England boss Shaun Wane) he told me that. That’s when I knew I’d made the right decision. It’s exciting we get them first up and go hard.

“Everyone’s different and everyone wants something, even me to pick this side.

“I love Australia. I love everything about it and love living there. But sometimes you get that feeling in your chest. I’m not a big believer in stuff but there must be Yorkshire blood in me to give me that feeling I had to go with it.

“For these people who are doing it for their families and the right reasons and gave enough notice, the Australia side is definitely not weakened. They are a bloody good side and hard to beat. Looking forward to hopefully getting chance to play them.”

Victor Radley married to England for the World Cup

Radley joined up with the rest of the England squad this week as they trained at Wigan’s Robin Park Arena ahead of Friday night’s warm up game against Fiji at Salford’s AJ Bell Stadium. Brian McDermott has been working with the Fiji coaching team ahead of the tournament after leaving his job at Featherstone.

And Radley has revealed how it was a chat with his club coach Trent Robinson, that helped him make the big decision to call Shaun Wane and opt to play for England.

“I thought about doing it and I thought I want to play for England, I wanted to sit on it for a few months,” he revealed.

“Robbo said to me ‘it’s marriage, it’s not a girlfriend thing’. I sat on it a few months and that feeling of wanting to play for England never faded away. So I went with my gut and my chest and I’m stoked with the decision. I’m stoked I’m over here now.”

Read more

RED DEVIL: From a building site to the World Cup: The terrific rise of Andy Ackers

WORLD CUP: Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021

SAINTS: St Helens the best ever Super League side? That’s debatable

FOLLOW: Keep up with all the latest on the Love Rugby League mobile app and podcast