Trent Robinson holds no reservations about Angus Crichton’s ability to handle the emotion and theatre of an Anzac Day comeback from his NRL sabbatical and endorsed the back-rower’s ambition of a rapid return to State of Origin along the same lines.
Crichton’s first Roosters appearance of the year will come in front of 45,000 fans at Allianz Stadium, with Robinson planning to start the 27-year-old rather than ease him into the contest from the bench after he took time out from the game when he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder over the summer.
Crichton spoke on Sunday of being “in a good space” as he resumes his career and putting himself in contention for a NSW call-up five games out from Brad Fittler picking his Origin I side.
There was a belief that Crichton’s comeback may have been held back to avoid the Anzac clash – the biggest regular-season game on the NRL calendar – but Robinson said all indications are Crichton is fully equipped to handle the occasion.
“I thought it was better to get him started,” Robinson said on Monday.
“Between he and Sitili [Tupouniua, who is also returning from an ACL injury], physically I think he’s really good and I felt like the way that I’ve seen him train over the last month as well, he’s hit his mark continuously.
Angus Crichton during his NSW Cup return to playing duties last week.Credit: Rhett Wyman
“So that’s been really good to see and to get him out there to start, it was an easy choice, actually.”
The fact Crichton is already thinking of a representative return, having played 11 times for the Blues and been a key figure in Australia’s World Cup triumph, was also viewed positively by Robinson.
“That’s always been a part of him and his desire to be the best possible player he can [be],” Robinson said.
“If he’s talking in those terms that means that he’s really focused on playing and that means that his goals are very clear. That seems like a really good mindset to be in.
“There wasn’t a timeline on [Crichton’s return]. We weren’t really sure at what speed things were going to go. But obviously that’s not my decision. There’s been a medical decision before it got to me. And then all the okays were there and then it got to me around the footy decision.
“We’ve ticked all those boxes and he’s right to go. It’s a never-ending path as far as I know but it’s great to have him back on the footy field and doing what he loves. It’s a part of the process as well.”
Robinson watched axed half Sam Walker turn out for the Roosters’ NSW Cup side on Sunday, with Joey Manu’s return to the No.6 jersey lost among the focus on the young playmaker’s demotion.
He gave little away on Walker’s short-term future as he insisted once more that the 20-year-old remains in the club’s long-term plans.
Manu has proven himself one of the game’s most devastating ball-runners and excelled whenever he has been closer to the action at fullback or five-eighth, claiming the 2022 Golden Boot award as New Zealand’s No.1 and relishing a roving centre role at the Roosters.
“Luke [Keary] has to take the responsibility to run that team and allow [Manu] to get into the game as he sees fit,” Robinson said of his new halves pairing.
“You want him to get the ball, so we changed that with him last year with that roaming [role] and he had one of the best years that he’s had in the Roosters jersey, and then he backed that up at the World Cup.
“So that roaming aspect was a real benefit to our game and to his game but some of those traits in that five-eighth role are a little bit clearer and he’s consistently in that spot. We need to give him space to own that role.”
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