Kangaroos forward Angus Crichton has been slapped with a two-game ban and is set to be sidelined for the opening rounds of the 2023 NRL season.
After Australia’s 30-10 victory over Samoa in the World Cup final the 26-year-old was hit with a Grade B striking charge for a forearm to Samoan star Chanel Harris-Tavita’s head.
Crichton was sent to the sin bin just after halftime of the clash and Harris-Tavita did not return, remaining sidelined due to concussion protocols.
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Harris-Tavita stunned the rugby league world earlier this year by announcing he would be taking an indefinite break from the sport.
While it wasn’t an ideal finish to the 23-year-old’s World Cup campaign, Crichton insisted that there was no vicious intent in the incident.
“I didn’t know he was coming and there was no malice at all, sending out my blessings to his family,” Crichton said.
“It is all love between me and Chanel, I spoke to him after the game and I apologised, whenever I play football I don’t try to injure anyone.
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“I never want to see anyone get injured on a football field, we love rugby league because of the nature of the sport, we don’t go out there trying to hurt people.
“I just want everyone to know it was just a genuine reaction, I never go out on the field to try and hurt someone.
“He’s a great player and I am actually meant to be travelling with him after this so there’s no bad blood between me and Chanel.
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“He’s great friends with Nathan Cleary, who I am also great mates with… I am genuinely sorry for that, it was not my intention at all.”
Meanwhile, a frustrated Matt Parish believed the Roosters backrower was lucky not to be sent off.
“Five minutes into the second half our hooker gets elbowed in the head and gets carted off, then the referee makes a weak decision and puts him in the bin, dumbfounded,” Parish said.
“An elbow to the head and the hooker gets knocked out and taken out of the game.”
