Angus Crichton overcomes illness to help Rabbitohs edge Dragons
AN exhausted Angus Crichton was physically ill behind the dead ball line after battling a severe cold in the lead-up to South Sydney’s comeback win.
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AN exhausted Angus Crichton was physically ill behind the dead ball line after battling a severe cold in the lead-up to South Sydney’s comeback win against St George Illawarra.
Crichton has been battling the sickness for the past two weeks which has left the back-rower with a raspy voice.
“I’ve been sick all week, I’ve lost my voice and I vomited in the in-goals,” Crichton said.
“To get through that, hopefully I can rest up this week and have a big one (against the Roosters).
“I haven’t been able to speak for the last week. Hopefully I will be able to have my voice next week.”
Crichton kick-started the Rabbitohs comeback when he sliced through St George Illawarra’s Kurt Mann before laying on a try to Adam Reynolds. The line break and try assist was coupled with his 22 tackles and 96 metres from 12 hit-ups in an 80-minute performance.
Despite making his State of Origin debut earlier this year, Crichton described the match as the most brutal he had played.
“That’s what finals footy is,” Crichton said.
“I had full faith in Reynolds and full faith in our forwards. That was the toughest game of our lives.”
While he may have been battling illness, Crichton received little sympathy from coach Anthony Seibold. Seibold delivered a stern message to his charger after he gave away three penalties.
“He finished the game really strong,” Seibold said.
“He has been crook for the last couple of weeks. I wasn’t happy with how many penalties he gave away.
“I sent a direct message out to him. He ran with intent. That’s what we want from Angus. Really happy with how he finished the game.”
Crichton will now line-up against the Roosters – the club he will join next year after inking a rich three-year deal to join the Rabbitohs’ arch-rivals.
“It’s do or die,” Crichton said.
“That’s what this squad is built for. We are ready to take on anything.”