Exactly 12 months ago, Angus Crichton was on the outside looking in. Not required for the Roosters’ blockbuster season-opener against Brisbane in Las Vegas, nor for their round two-clash with Manly at Brookvale.
Instead, the former NSW and Test star was preparing to play in NSW Cup against Blacktown Workers, as speculation mounted about the likelihood of him defecting to rugby union, the code he played in his formative years.
By the end of a remarkable campaign, season, Crichton had not only regained his starting position in the Roosters’ pack, he had managed to re-establish himself as one of the NRL’s elite forwards.
When the dust settled on 2024, Crichton had been named Dally M second-rower of the year, played a leading role in NSW’s stirring Origin series triumph – claiming both the Brad Fittler and Wally Lewis Medals in the process – and played in all three Tests for the Kangaroos in their Pacific Championships conquest.
And, in the process, he secured a two-season contract extension with the Roosters, who – with the benefit of hindsight – must surely now be relieved that Gold Coast enigma David Fifita controversially reneged on an agreement to join them.
If not for Fifita’s change of mind, Crichton would probably by plying his trade elsewhere this year. Instead, he shapes as a key man as the Roosters gear up for what many expect will be a rebuilding operation after losing a raft of proven performers.
Angus Crichton regained his mojo during a remarkable 2024 campaign.Credit: Getty Images
“It is funny looking back on the journey, but I think it’s all part of it, isn’t it?” Crichton said. “It’s a different mentality coming in now, wanting to improve on where I was, whereas last year I had to fight tooth and nail to get even a look into the team.
“Sometimes the challenges you go through, and the challenges that you overcome, become some of the most important, defining factors of you, as a person. So I’m sure I won’t be taking it for granted and I’ll do my best to stay where I am.”
Having overcome well-documented mental-health issues that restricted him to just 13 games in 2023, Crichton said he was “excited to prove a lot of people wrong last year”.
He is approaching 2025 with a more settled, clearer mindset, embracing the challenge of being a leader in a new-look team, while simultaneously striving to keep improving as an individual.
Brad Fittler presents the medal named after him to Angus Crichton.Credit: NRL Photos
“I’m just working really hard to try and go one-up again and keep building my game and have another big year,” he said. “Obviously we’ve lost some guys, and we’ve got some young guys that are going to step up.
“There’s more of an onus on some of us senior boys to take it up another level. It’s a bit more responsibility, and I’m looking forward to that.”
Roosters skipper James Tedesco, meanwhile, has no qualms about his team being widely written off in the race for the premiership, or even the top eight.
The majority of pundits believe the Roosters will struggle after the departures of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary, Joey Manu, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Sitili Tupouniua and Terrell May, exacerbated by long-term injuries that will keep Sam Walker and Brandon Smith sidelined until mid-season.
Angus Crichton after Australia beat Tonga in their Pacific Championships opener.Credit: NRL Images
Tedesco said the long-time heavyweights, who have featured in the finals every season since 2016, were “definitely aware” of the outside noise, which has intensified after pre-season trial losses against St George Illawarra (26-8) and Newcastle (48-10).
“We sort of feel like, ‘Yeah, let people write us off. That’s cool’,” Tedesco said. “We’re used to everyone talking us up and saying we’re going to win the comp, so it’s a bit different for us. But nothing really changes in our four walls.
“We’ve worked so hard in this pre-season and we know we have the team to do great things this year. We just have to believe in it and take it week by week.”
The Roosters open their season against Brisbane at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night minus enforcer Spencer Leniu, who copped a two-game suspension for a high tackle in the trials.
Naufahu Whyte, who made his debut for New Zealand in last year’s Pacific Championships, appears the leading candidate to replace Leniu.
“He’s just going to keep getting better and better,” Tedesco said of Whyte. “He’s such a big, strong, physical forward. He just needs to play with that confidence, because when he’s running like that, he’s bloody hard to stop.”
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