No decision on Radradra Eels inclusion

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur says he will wait until he speaks to troubled star Semi Radradra before making a decision on whether to play him in the Eels’ NRL clash against Cronulla.

Arthur said he has yet to speak to Radradra since the winger was detained by police after arriving at Sydney airport on Thursday night.

He will give Radradra the option of standing down from Saturday night’s match.

“I don’t know a lot about it. It’s happened really quickly. I tried to put in a call this morning and I’m not sure where it’s at,” Arthur said.

Arthur was unsure whether the Eels winger would train on Friday morning, hours after he was charged with three counts of domestic violence on his return to Sydney from Fiji.

Regardless, he said he still planned to speak to the 24-year-old to assess his welfare.

If Radradra does train, it would be his first session with the club in two weeks after he took extended leave to visit his family in Fiji.

He twice delayed his return.

However the club’s fullback Michael Gordon said the majority of players took time off over the bye weekend, and that he wasn’t frustrated by Radradra’s return coming a day before the team’s next match.

“We knew he was having some extra time off,” Gordon told Sky Sports Radio.

“Like Brad said, he’s had some personal stuff to deal with for a while for now.

“Players have got their own life outside of footy … everyone is giving him his space and letting him try and deal with whatever he’s dealing with.”

Parramatta confirmed they were aware of the charges on Friday morning, and that they would work closely with the NRL’s integrity unit on the matter.

“This is a serious matter and the club is treating it as such,” director Geoff Gerard said.

“In accordance with our club’s values, Semi will be afforded the presumption of innocence.”

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