From NSW Cup to NSW Origin player of the year – Angus Crichton’s comeback story just keeps getting better.
Crichton’s brilliant individual season continued on Monday night when he was crowned the Brad Fittler Medal winner at The Star.
The 28-year-old failed to make the Sydney Roosters team in round one in Las Vegas. Now heading into the final round of the season, Crichton is arguably the most in-form backrower in the NRL.
“It has been wild, and the best way to describe it has been bizarre,” Crichton said.
“A lot of people doubted me and put a line through my name and counted me out.
“I remember not getting picked for round one and it hurt, especially because I had trained so hard over the off-season... I just had to back myself and believe in myself.”
Angus Crichton wins the Brad Fittler Medal.Credit: Gregg Porteous/NSWRL
Even when stranded in reserve grade, Crichton said he never gave up on his Origin dream this year.
He praised his partner, Chloe Esegbona, and immediately turned his sights to helping the injury-hit Roosters lift again in September.
Crichton spent the previous night watching episodes of Seinfeld with halfback Sam Walker, who was trying to take his mind off the fact he had ruptured his ACL.
The Brad Fittler Medal complemented Crichton’s Wally Lewis Medal for being the best player in this year’s Origin series, which was won by the Blues.
St George Illawarra’s Zac Lomax, Canterbury’s Stephen Crichton and Penrith’s Liam Martin were all standouts for the Blues during their 2-1 triumph over Queensland.
But Crichton was nothing short of outstanding in attack and defence. The moment he palmed off Reuben Cotter in game two in Melbourne after he took exception to a tackle, followed by several Blues laughing in Cotter’s face, became one of the iconic moments of coach Michael Maguire’s first series in charge.
Angus Crichton: “I just had to back myself and believe in myself”.Credit: Getty Images
Crichton also collected the People’s Choice Award, while NSW Sky Blues winger Jaime Chapman completed the same awards’ double. Captain Jake Trbojevic won the True Blue Award.
Debuting for the Blues in 2018, Crichton has gone on to play 14 Origin games. This series alone he ran for 488 metres, made 61 tackles, 10 offloads and two line-break assists.
The Brad Fittler Medal was first presented in 2005 with winners including Matt King (2005), Steve Menzies (2006), Danny Buderus (2008), Paul Gallen (2011), James Tedesco (2018-19, 22), Nathan Cleary (2020), Tom Trbojevic (2021), and Brian To’o (2023).
Canberra Raiders fullback Chevy Stewart was named the NSW under-19s player of the year after scoring a try and setting up the match-winner in the 14-10 win over Queensland. Illawarra halfback Kasey Reh was named NSW under-19s womens’ player of the year.
In a good night for the Raiders, halfback Adam Cook was named NSW Cup player of the year. Cook led the competition for try assists (21), was equal first for line break assists (20), and was second for both points scored (150) and goals (69).
2024 Brad Fittler Medal award winners:
- Brad Fittler Medal: Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
- True Blue Award: Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
- The Daily Telegraph People’s Choice Award: Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters), Jaime Chapman (Gold Coast Titans)
- NSW Women’s State of Origin Player of the Year: Jaime Chapman (Gold Coast Titans)
- Sky Blues Award: Yasmin Clydsdale (Newcastle Knights)
- CABE NSW Men’s Under 19s Origin Player of the Year: Chevy Stewart (Canberra Raiders)
- NSW Women’s Under 19s Origin Player of the Year: Kasey Reh (Illawarra Steelers)
- The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year: Adam Cook (Canberra Raiders)
- Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year: Leilani Wilson (Wentworthville Magpies)
- Jersey Flegg Cup Player of the Year: Owen Pattie (Canberra Raiders)
- Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup Player of the Year: Craig Garvey (Glebe Dirty Reds)
- Sydney Shield Player of the Year: Jake Watmough (Manly Leagues)
- Men’s Country Championship Player of the Year: Josh Ayers (Monaro Colts)
- Gordon Lowrie Memorial Community Volunteer of the Year Award: Khalil Kouayder (Greenacre Tigers)