Origin 2021: Blues star Angus Crichton says poking tongue out to taunt rivals was a ‘mistake’

Recalled Blues star Angus Crichton has responded to claims of arrogance in his game by insisting his tongue taunts are ‘a mistake’ and ‘not who I am’.

Crichton is delighted to be back in Blues camp.

Angus Crichton says it was just a slip of the tongue – but these images show the Sydney Roosters star’s taunting of NRL rivals is fast becoming a habit.

As NSW prepares to take on Queensland and wrap up the State of Origin series in game two on Sunday night, the Blues back-rower has responded to claims of arrogance in his game.

“I am human, I make mistakes,” Crichton insisted. “It’s not who I am.”

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Crichton says poking out his tongue ‘is not who I am’.

Crichton came under fire for a bizarre incident against the Gold Coast a fortnight ago when he cheekily stuck out his tongue at young Titans fullback Jayden Campbell on the way to scoring a try.

In commentary, former Queensland and Australian forward Corey Parker said Crichton showed a “fair bit of arrogance” and “a lot of lair play” towards 21-year-old Campbell in just his second NRL game.

Despite being nearly 30kg lighter, Campbell wasn’t deterred and wrapped up Crichton, almost preventing the try from being scored.

The Blues star said he had apologised to Campbell.

“I wasn’t happy with that. I went and apologised to him after the game,” Crichton said.

“We cleared it up. It just happened and I felt horrible after it. It’s not who I am.

Crichton insists it’s all a mistake but has been caught several times this season.

“I think I went into that game playing a bit too emotionally. I had a lot of emotions going in. I wanted to play a certain way and, in that instance, it came out the wrong way.

“I am human, I make mistakes. I will own up and move forward. I just wanted to go out and play a really great game and play to the best of my ability.

“The pressure I put on myself to go and perform, it came out the wrong way.

“People talk, mate, but at the end of the day, I know who I am. I’ve cleared it up with him, my teammates and family – that’s all that matters. Like I said, I’ve apologised, owned up to it and moved on.”

While Crichton insisted it wasn’t a malicious act, he’s earning a reputation for his cheeky try-scoring displays.

Crichton also poked the tongue out at Jake Clifford when scoring in game against North Queensland and again after going over against Manly.

Crichton is delighted to be back in Blues camp.

Crichton missed Origin I but was always going to regain his spot for game two.

Crichton was one of the NRL’s form backrowers before a two-match suspension on May 25 for dangerous contact.

“Missing the first game was disappointing, it definitely hurt, but I was very happy watching the boys perform the way they did. I was proud to be a New South Welshmen,” he said.

“You’re never happy with your form, you’re always chasing that perfect game and you always want to get better. I feel like I’m in the right spot at the Roosters, with some great coaches and some great players.

“It’s a credit to them that I get the chance to come and perform with these coaches and these players in a camp like this.

“Michael Maguire taught me a lot about the game when I was at Souths and someone like Boyd Cordner has been a massive inspiration and a true leader. He showed me what it takes to be a Roosters backrower, how to play the game in a certain way and how to carry yourself as a man.”

The Roosters star is wary of a Queensland revival in Game Two on Sunday.

Crichton completed training with his NSW teammates under sunny skies at Cudgen on the far NSW north coast.

“The boys have created some really good energy about the place and I’m excited to buy in and part of it,” Crichton said.

“But Queensland will come out firing, there’s no doubt about that and I think we have to re-create (game one). Queensland in Queensland, we all know what they’re going to produce.”

And asked about playing with a man bun, Crichton said: “I’ve got to keep everyone on their toes…got to be a bit different. I just felt like growing my hair out so here we are.” 

Originally published as Origin 2021: Blues star Angus Crichton says poking tongue out to taunt rivals was a ‘mistake’