NRL: Roosters star to miss start of NRL season

The Roosters will be without one of their most important players for the start of the new NRL season, but it’s not as bad as it could have been.

Angus Crichton will return in round 2 before a clash against his former side. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Angus Crichton will miss round 1 of the 2023 NRL season after the Roosters back-rower was suspended for one game following a judiciary hearing on Wednesday night.

Crichton was initially looking at a two-match ban after he was hit with a grade B reckless striking charge for an elbow on Samoa’s Chanel Harris-Tavita in the recent World Cup final.

The off-the-ball hit knocked Harris-Tavita out of the game and infuriated Samoa’s coach Matt Parish, who felt Crichton should have been sent off early in the second half rather than sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

Angus Crichton will miss one match for his act of foul play. Picture: Oli Scarff/AFP

As ugly as the tackle looked, Crichton apologised for the hit immediately after the game.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga represented his back-rower at a World Cup hearing and successfully had the charge downgraded, which means Crichton will only miss his side’s opening round clash against the Dolphins in what will be the franchise’s first game in the NRL.

The 26-year-old is free to return when the Roosters host the Warriors in round 2 before a blockbuster showdown with his former side the Rabbitohs the following week.