Roosters star free to play in round 1 thanks to legal loophole

The Dolphins’ hopes of winning in round 1 just got a lot harder with a star Rooster free to play after his World Cup ban was moved forward.

Angus Crichton can celebrate because he’s free to play for the Roosters in round 1. Picture: Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Angus Crichton won’t miss the start of the 2023 NRL season thanks to an International Rugby League loophole that will allow him to serve his one-match ban during next year’s trials.

The Roosters edge forward was initially suspended for two matches for a raised elbow that knocked Samoa’s Chanel Harris-Tavita out of the World Cup final but had the ban halved following a successful appeal.

Crichton was sent to the sin bin for the incident, with Samoa coach Matt Parish livid that the Kangaroos back-rower wasn’t sent off for an act of foul play that injured his makeshift dummy-half.

Angius Crichton’s forearm knocked Chanel Harris-Tavita out cold. Picture; Oli Scarff/AFP

While players like suspended Eel Ryan Matterson can’t serve bans during the trials because the illegality occurred in an NRL match, the same rule doesn’t apply to Crichton thanks to the IRL, which allows players to serve their time in pre-season matches.

It means Crichton will miss the Roosters’ trial game against the Storm in Geelong but will be free to face the Dolphins in round 1.

Crichton had a fantastic tournament on the left edge and was quick to apologise to fans and Harris-Tavita for what happened.

“I want to talk to you guys because I want to get this message across, and I want to let his family know that I am genuinely sorry,” he said.

“I want to let the Samoa community know that I had no malice at all.

“It was just me bracing for a tackle and it was a freak tackle. As soon as it happened, I spoke to Chanel, and it was honestly just a reaction. I didn’t know that he was coming in and I had not malice at all.”