Parramatta star Semi Radradra has left the door ajar to return to the NRL after his French Rugby sojourn and has taken a parting dig at Australian coach Mal Meninga.
The Fijian sensation on Thursday spoke for the first time since his decision to quit the Eels at the end of the 2017 and join French powerhouse Toulon.
In a wide-ranging interview he revealed:
* He didn't rule out one day coming back to rugby league and would "love" to play for Parramatta again
* He questioned the ARL Commission and Meninga's decision to leave him out of the Kangaroos' squad for the Four Nations because of domestic violence allegations
* He didn't regret his decision to sign with rugby and understood if fans were aggrieved
* He was remaining focused despite having the domestic violence allegations still before court.
Radradra's name has taken a battering since his decision to turn his back on the game that had made him a star.
However he defended the call, saying he was doing what was right for his family.
"I don't regret any decision I make," Radradra said.
"If it comes from inside me, I don't regret anything. It's a good thing for me to go play rugby union and, hopefully, if I get a chance to come back, I'd love to come back."
Pushed on when he could see himself returning to league, he said: "We'll see what happens ... I would love to come back to Parra."
Radradra spurned his Fijian heritage to turn out for Australia in last year's mid-year Test.
He was then cut from the squad for the end-of-year Four Nations because of his pending court case.
The 24-year-old questioned the reasoning behind him being blacklisted, pointing out he represented the Prime Minister's XIII, a side coached by Meninga, the previous week.
"I don't know if they made the right choice because they let me play in PNG. Whatever it is, I don't know."
He called playing for Australia "the best moment of my life" and expressed his disappointment that Meninga had stated he wouldn't be considered for this year's trans-Tasman Test and World Cup because of his looming departure to rugby.
He said he understood Meninga's decision was based on business but wasn't second-guessing his move to Toulon.
"I grew up playing union and I had the opportunity to come here and play for Parramatta," Radradra said.
"I've been here for five years now playing rugby league."
He said he hadn't watched a game of union lately but wasn't concerned about making the transition.
"I'll just worry about playing rugby league this year and that's it," he said. "I'll start on union next year."
Asked if he was worried about how he would be viewed by the club's fans, Radradra said: "I'd be upset for the fans, for sure. It's a business nowadays and it's what's best for me and my family."
Radradra will open his season against Manly on Sunday at Lottoland and says he is having no problem concentrating on football despite being due back in court in May.
"I don't worry about what happens off-field. I just worry about playing footy with the boys," he said.
"It's pretty easy with the boys helping me out. I'm not by myself. I get help from the boys."
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