Angus Crichton has always been a Roosters fan and he can prove it

South Sydney firebrand Cody Walker labelled Angus Crichton a traitor after the NSW Origin forward ditched the Rabbitohs for the Roosters. Tell your story walking Cody...

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This is the photo that proves Angus Crichton has always been a Rooster first, Rabbitoh second.

And it contradicts former South Sydney teammate Cody Walker’s “traitor” sledge levelled at Crichton during the opening round of the season.

Taken in 2014 as a teenager, the photograph shows a baby faced and much leaner Crichton in his Roosters SG Ball kit alongside NRL winger Daniel Tupou.

Crichton, 23, played SG Ball with the Roosters before joining the Rabbitohs in 2015.

A teenage Crichton with Daniel Tupou in 2014.

“I played SG Ball with Latrell (Mitchell), Joey Manu and Connor Watson (Newcastle fullback),’’ Crichton said.

“I remember Jazza (Jared Waerea-Hargraeves) and Boydo (Boyd Cordner) were here, but they were always the big scary guys. I didn’t really speak to them much,’’ Crichton said.

“Jazza came and spoke to our SG Ball team once and I was pretty star struck.

“I remember I got a photo with Daniel Tupou, I would’ve been 16 and he would’ve been starting to make a bit of a name for himself.

Crichton with Paul Momirovski in the Roosters' 2014 S.G. Ball squad.

“I remember I went up there, as a shy little kid and asked for a photo. We still laugh about it.

“There’s another photo, I would’ve been 16 down Bondi Beach and I got a photo with Jazza.

“I’ve always been a Roosters fan.

“If you speak to any NRL player, we all start by being fans of the game. That’s the reason we play because we love it. So growing up as a kid, I was always a Roosters fan.

“I went to Roosters grand finals, Freddy (Brad Fittler) was an idol of mine.

“And if any NRL player tells you they still don’t have a soft spot for the team they grew up supporting, they’re lying to you.

“When I was at Souths, the Roosters were always one of my favourite teams and now I’m honoured to be playing for them.’’

Cody Walker had plenty to say about the Roosters. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Much to the delight of fans, Walker ignited the hatred between the two sides by launching a verbal attack against the Roosters back-rower in the Rabbitohs’ opening-round win in what was Crichton’s first game against his old side.

Crichton said the verbal spray didn’t faze him.

“I’m not upset about it,’’ Crichton said. “I’ve learnt to have thick skin, through the process of coming here.

“Now I’m here, I’m just focused on trying to play my best footy with this team.

“We shook hands after the game and that’s all right.’’

Crichton has no problem with his former teammates. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Asked if he would hold onto to the hate and use it as motivation for when the two teams meet again in the final round of the season, Crichton said: “There’s always going to be a fierce rivalry between Souths and the Roosters, it doesn’t matter whether you’re talking about round 25 or next year, or the year after.”

Crichton earned his NSW Origin debut last year, but has been made to work for a starting spot with the Roosters following off-season shoulder surgery.

He was given just 19 minutes against the Rabbitohs. Yet Crichton said he was under no illusion why he had started the season on the interchange bench.

“Coming to a great club like this, a team that has won the comp, I’m not upset and I’m not frustrated at all to sit on the bench,’’ Crichton said.

“I’d feel strange walking straight in and taking that spot.

“Mitchell Aubusson is a great player. He’s won two competitions with this club and played over 270 games so I owe him the respect to earn my spot.

“To get to do that, all I have to do is play my best footy every week and train as best I can and hopefully it will come.’’

Originally published as Angus Crichton has always been a Roosters fan and he can prove it