Angus Crichton quits Rabbitohs for Roosters, despite chance to follow his long-term plans through the club
SADLY for South Sydney fans, Angus Crichton will not be the only player to bail at the end of next season.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ANGUS Crichton recently revealed plans to start a charity for kids in Arnhem Land and make documentaries — two things South Sydney could have easily accommodated because of their rich ties to the indigenous community and an Oscar winner for an owner.
So it was fair to say Souths officials were shattered when Crichton informed them next year would be his last at the club, and he would be taking up a three-year deal worth nearly $3 million to join bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters.
Arguably still a rookie with just 30 NRL games under his belt, Crichton had huge interest from Cronulla and the Roosters, with Souths also tabling what they described as “a really competitive three-year offer”.
Sadly for Souths fans, Crichton will not be the only player to bail at the end of next season with five-eighth Cody Walker passing on a recently-revised offer and now weighing up interest from three rival clubs.
Crichton, a well-spoken, well-educated star of the future, contacted coach Anthony Seibold with the news on Sunday before it became public just before lunch on Monday.
Seibold said there were no plans to grant Crichton an early leave pass to join the Roosters, and was keen to work with the backrower in his first year as an NRL head coach.
“It’s disappointing for us as a club, we offered Angus a really competitive three-year deal to stay with us, he’s been here three years since he left school, so we are disappointed from that point of view,’’ Seibold told The Daily Telegraph.
“But it’s good it’s been resolved and we can move on for 2018.
“’Gussy’ is contracted with us for next year, and he will add great value to our 2018 season.
“We’ve had a couple of good conversations the last couple of days, and we’re both heading in the same direction for next year.
“The Rabbitohs are a very resilient club, and although we’re disappointed, we’ll finish this pre-Christmas training bloc, then focus on round one.’’
Writing for PlayersVoice, Crichton addressed speculation about his 2019 plans, and said: “Like any player, I have ambitions to win a premiership and play State of Origin and Test football. I need to grow as a player, so I need to be in the best environment to make that happen.’’
Seibold said he was “confident and comfortable with the environment he had inherited, and comfortable with what he was doing’’, while also pointing out Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess had played plenty of representative football while based at Redfern.
Crichton’s huge deal means the Roosters’ will have close to a third of their salary cap in 2019 made up by three players, including fellow millionaires James Tedesco and Cooper Cronk.
The cap in 2019 is expected to rise to around $9.6 million.
Crichton played a handful of games with the Roosters SG Ball team after he trained with them over the summer as he recovered from a neck injury suffered playing schoolboys rugby.