In year ten, Victor Radley dropped out of school to work for his father.
He picked up a lot of knowledge working side by side with her for three years. Not just about carpentry and how important it is to save money, but also about the work ethic needed to complete the task at hand.
There were benefits to the arrangement, like getting paid a little bit more than your average apprentice and working on projects close to beaches in the eastern suburbs. There were a few lengthy days and occasionally a short one when he got into a fight with the boss.
Working with the old man is indeed taxing, as Radley recalled.
“Many arguments, many times I was sent home from work, and many times tape measures were thrown at me.”
“There was a blow-up every time I made a mistake. I got a little chucked at and ended up becoming a bit lippy. I would give him the finger; everything was well.
Radley, though, treasures each second. He learned the value of hard effort from his first profession, which he has carried over to his most recent position as a Roosters enforcer.
“I believe it has been beneficial, rising early and working from an early age,” he remarked.
“I genuinely enjoy my job,” I enjoy every aspect of going to work. It toughens you up a little. My elderly father doesn’t actually talk to me or give me advice.
But the way he operates sets an example. He is the hardest worker I have ever encountered.
He’s the one who provides it to me. working eight-hour days, six days a week. He works hard and is a tough guy.
Radley possesses all of those qualities as well. It’s the reason he won the Rookie of the Year title from the Rugby League Players’ Association in a breakthrough season that led to a five-year contract extension with the Roosters. The 20-year-old’s massive strikes on Manly duo Dylan Walker and Martin Taupau have further cemented his image as a guy not to be trifled with.
The fact that he is a Rooster and a rare local junior, meanwhile, may be what makes him most valuable to the team. Adrian Lam and his father, Nigel, have had a significant impact. Radley used to play both rugby codes and thought about sticking with the 15-man format. Still, the
Having Adrian Lam, one of the all-time greats of the Roosters, as my coach since I was eight years old is unmatched,” he remarked.
“Not many people get to train under a nice guy like him, and he’s also helped shape who I am today.
He put a lot of effort and faith into me. I genuinely wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him. I owe him a great deal.
