When the star-studded Sydney Roosters flew over to Las Vegas for the opening round of the NRL season, Angus Crichton was clearly at a career crossroads.
The back-rower, who was once regarded as one of the game’s best forwards, had fallen down the pecking order at the Tricolours, left out for the first two games of their campaign as the likes of Siua Wong and Sitili Tupouniua were preferred.
However, once the opportunity came from coach Trent Robinson, the 28-year-old hasn’t looked back and is now arguably in the best form of his career, culminating with a recall to the NSW Blues squad for the State of Origin opener.
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Speaking to reporters in Blues camp on Tuesday, Crichton admitted the early-season setback only further fuelled the fire inside him to “remind” the doubters of his talents.
“I knew if I got given the opportunity that I could get back here and perform,” he said.
Angus Crichton has been a dominant force for the Roosters this year. Getty
“It took a little while to get there and it was a different path, but to be here now makes it sweeter. I already had enough motivation and enough drive to come out and perform. I wanted to come back and remind everyone who I am and what I can do.
“I feel like I’m still getting there – I haven’t played my best game. I’ve still been leaving stuff out there on the paddock – there’s bits of it which have been pleasing, but I still want to get better. I’m excited to keep pushing for that perfect game.”
Crichton has been impressive on both sides of the ball for the Chooks across his 10 appearances this year, scoring six tries and averaging 128 run metres and 28 tackles per game as the side emerges as a genuine premiership contender.
The opportunity to get back into the starting lineup at Bondi after a difficult 2023 season on and off the field has paid off for Crichton and the club, with his powerful running and hard-hitting defence catapulting the Roosters to some huge wins.
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Despite his form in club land and selection for NSW, there are still doubts over his future in the red, white and blue for next year and beyond, with a host of rival clubs lining up to sign the premiership-winning edge forward.
The recent saga involving David Fifita has left Crichton in a tricky spot, with the club clearly looking elsewhere before the Titans superstar backflipped on his move.
David Fifita backflipped on his move to the Roosters. Getty
Crichton claims there has been no decision made on his future at this stage, but acknowledged the Roosters were doing what they thought was best for business and has spoken to coach Robinson in the weeks that followed the ordeal.
“No update on my deal yet – my manager has spoken with Nick [Politis] and they are trying to figure something out,” he said.
“I was emotional [about the Fifita situation] … but there’s definitely no love lost there for the club. I understand at the end of the day that it’s a business, it’s not personal.
“We sat down and had a chat after that and obviously I will keep that confidential. We’ll keep that confidential, we’re in a good place now.
“At the start of the year, they were looking to the future and weren’t keen to re-sign me. Obviously I’m playing good footy now, they are keen to re-sign me.
“I don’t think there’s a rush for me to make any decisions quickly and I will sit back and see what comes and make a decision.”
The fact that Fifita was slated to earn $850,000 per year with the Roosters before reneging on the contract should see Crichton earn a similar amount, especially given his incredible career turnaround and his impending return to the Origin arena.
Crichton revealed that even when his short-term and long-term future was under the microscope, Blues coach Michael Maguire never gave up on him and always had one eye on the former Rabbitoh being involved in this year’s series.
“It was funny, I met up with him at the start of the year because I missed out on the camp they went on because they couldn’t have that many numbers,” Crichton said.
Angus Crichton in NSW Blues camp. Getty
“I went around to his place and had some fruit salad that his missus had cut up for us. I just talked to him about myself, my footy and where I was at.
“Madge obviously saw something in me as an 18-year-old and signed me to Souths, so we’ve obviously got that history. I’ve got a lot of respect for the man and I think he’s a good coach. He’s a straight shooter and tells you how it is.
“He knew I was playing reserve grade at the start of the year and still said ‘You’ve got that talent in you’ and obviously I’m here now, so it feels good.”
Crichton will partner Panthers enforcer Liam Martin in the back-row against the Maroons next Wednesday night, with the Blues also naming six rookies for the clash.