'Dark days': Crichton emerges from injury pain with unfinished business
- Author
- Timestamp
Roosters star Angus Crichton has declared he can be his side's finals gamebreaker as he opened up on the dark days he experienced during a lengthy recovery from a foot injury.
The back-rower made a successful return with a dominant 30-minute cameo off the bench in his side's 46-10 semi-final victory over the Sharks on Saturday night.
It was Crichton's first game since Round 15 and brought an end to an arduous 12-week recovery period that challenged the 30-year-old both physically and mentally.
Gussy in the middle: Robinson relishing rejuvenated Crichton
The forward concedes there were times he feared he wouldn't get back on the pitch this season but was desperate to return before his final campaign with the Roosters came to an end.
"I always knew there’s no other option," Crichton said. "This is who I am, this is my life and I’ve been in this club for eight years now. I love this club, I love the boys, I’m so determined to come back and be part of this.
"There were definitely dark times and tough days but at the end of the day that’s part and parcel of being a pro athlete. You’ve got to dust yourself off and get on with the job ahead, find different ways to make it work.
"A lot of credit has to go to my wife for keeping me level-headed. I’m a pretty impatient guy, if I’m told it’s 10-12 weeks, but then it wasn’t feeling like 10-12 weeks, that was pretty debilitating for me. That last week I was pretty upset, she’s kept me grounded and keeps me where I need to be."
Match: Dolphins v Roosters
Finals Week 3 -
home Team
Dolphins
3rd Position
away Team
Roosters
4th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Saturday night's win sent the Roosters into a preliminary final against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Crichton's desperation to return to the field was amplified by the fact he is playing his final season with the Roosters.
The schoolboy rugby star has signed with the Waratahs to chase his dream of playing for the Wallabies, meaning this is likely his final chance to win a second NRL premiership.
Crichton featured in the Roosters 2019 grand final victory and has enjoyed plenty of representative success for the Blues and Kangaroos in the seven years since but club glory has eluded him.
With his time in the game coming to an end, the backrower declared he has unfinished business before the curtain comes down.
Angus Crichton Try
"There’s only one way I want to leave this club," Crichton said. "It’s been a long time since we’ve done much as a club at the Roosters.
I’ve had success with the Kangaroos, had success with the Blues. That’s all great but at the end of the day, the Roosters are my brothers and that’s where our bread is buttered.
"This club deserves success and it demands success. We’ve got to keep our heads down and keep a clear focus and just stay inside ourselves."
With emerging back-rower Salesi Foketi dominating on the left edge, Roosters coach Trent Robinson has called on Crichton to fill a new role in his return from injury. That of impact bench forward.
The 30-year-old impressed in his first outing in the position, helping swing the momentum in his side's favour when inject into the contest 10 minutes into the second half on Saturday night.
Angus Crichton Try
Crichton ran for 90 metres and broke six tackles in a performance he hopes to replicate at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
"I want to bring the energy," Crichton said. "I only got on for 30 minutes but for 30 minutes I was going as hard as I can and trying to bring some energy to the boys and that bit of a lift.
"I’m coming in, haven’t played for 12 weeks so I’m not expecting to walk straight into that [starting] role. I’m a big believer in the team and whatever the team needs.
"I’m down to do that, whether it’s playing off the bench, starting or if it happens to be that I’m squeezed out of the team. Whatever the team needs to win, that’s what I want to do. At the end of the day I just want to make the team better."
After 27 epic rounds, it all comes down to this. One play can define a season. These are the moments that matter. Click here to secure your seats and get behind your team.
