NRL Market Watch: Angus Crichton’s huge financial sacrifice to stay with Roosters

It was a deal that almost never happened – now World Cup star Angus Crichton has opened up on why he decided to stay at the Roosters for much less money.

Angus Crichton took less money to stay at the Roosters. Picture: Getty

Angus Crichton has lifted the lid on the financial sacrifice he made to stay at the Sydney Roosters, admitting he turned his back on more money to concentrate on becoming a better player and person.

The Roosters recently confirmed Crichton had signed a two-year extension to stay at the club, ending months of protracted negotiations that were stalled by the NRL’s inability to strike a pay deal with the players union.

At times during the talks, it looked as though a deal couldn’t and wouldn’t be done. Crichton, however, was determined to stay and confirmed he took a hit in the hip pocket to make it happen.

“Yeah, I did,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I said I don’t care what you have to do, I want to get it done. I was so clear in how much I love the place, the area and the people in it.

“I just have such a strong connection to the place and I don’t want to walk away from it. It is a massive relief.

Angus Crichton took less money to stay at the Roosters. Picture: Getty

“Obviously there were moments where I didn’t know if it was going to happen and moments of doubt. I am just really happy it is finalised and been finished because I made it clear there was nowhere else I wanted to be.”

Crichton had no interest in exploring his options.

“I didn’t get to the point of looking around but I got to the point where my agent said we might have to,” Crichton said.

“I said: ‘I don’t want to entertain anything, I don’t want to talk to anyone’.

“Big credit to him, he did a great job. He stuck with me through the whole time.

“To get it over the line is a big relief.”

With his future now secure, Crichton can concentrate on helping Australia defend the World Cup. He has been one of the Kangaroos’ best players through the opening three pool games and is expected to be a walk-up start for the quarterfinals.

Once that target has been ticked off, he will set his sights on helping the Roosters challenge for another title.

Asked why he was so desperate to stay, Crichton said: “The people that are part of the club – the outside world doesn’t really understand the people the Roosters have inside the four walls.

Angus Crichton puts a huge fend on Lachlan Ilias. Picture: Getty

“The people is what makes a place. I feel like I owe the place something and I want to perform and give them my best and I know I can do that.

“The biggest thing out of all of it is that I know I have become a better person since I have gone there. I don’t want to let that go – I want to keep growing as a person and a player.

“Just the people who are there are friends for life – people who are so rock solid. People like Boyd Cordner, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Daniel Tupou are great men.”

JWH’S FRENCH FANTASY

— Dean Ritchie

Could it be au revoir for JWH?

French Super League club Catalans have internally discussed approaching New Zealand enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves about seeking an immediate release from the Sydney Roosters.

Waerea-Hargreaves, facing a World Cup quarter-final suspension for an ugly high shot (see below), is under contract at Bondi for another season but has attracted interest from the Dragons, based in southern France.

There is no suggestion, at this point, that the Roosters would allow Waerea-Hargreaves to leave a year early but a link between the two clubs is slowly strengthening.

Former Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce is playing with the club in Perpignan, as did ex-Roosters five-eighth James Maloney. In June, Catalans announced the signing of Roosters prop Siosiua Taukeiaho to a three-year deal.

Catalans haven’t made an official move on Waerea-Hargreaves but talks among club powerbrokers are increasing.

Three-time premiership-winning prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

For the deal to happen, Catalans would need former Roosters, Bulldogs and Queensland prop Dylan Napa to move on. Napa has been told he is free to leave Catalans a year early but is yet to secure a new club.

With the NRL free trade period having begun, Waerea-Hargreaves can officially start talking contracts with rival clubs.

Catalans head coach is Steve McNamara, a former assistant at the Roosters under head coach Trent Robinson, who is in England helping France’s national side at the World Cup.

Waerea-Hargreaves, 33, is leader of Sydney Roosters’ forward pack and the club may be reluctant to allow him to depart.

Catalans may need to wait another year when Waerea-Hargreaves comes off contract. Taukeiaho and Waerea-Hargreaves would form a formidable front-row combination in France next season.

Waerea-Hargreaves has found more trouble at the rugby league World Cup, sent to the sin bin over a high tackle last weekend.

It was his first game back from a three-game suspension incurred for dangerous contact in the Sydney Roosters’ elimination loss to South Sydney on September 11.

Catalans have a spot to fill after saying au revoir to Dylan Napa. Pic: Sky Sports

His return stint lasted just 13 minutes before he was banished for a hit on Ireland’s Dan Norman, who failed an HIA. Waerea-Hargraves’ right arm and shoulder clocked Norman’s jaw.

Waerea-Hargreaves is now certain to miss New Zealand’s quarter-final against Fiji after being charged for the incident. He faces a one-game suspension for a Grade A high tackle.

Post-game, Ireland coach Ged Corcoran ripped into Waerea-Hargreaves, saying: “I’m filthy with it. I’ve got to be careful with what I say but really disappointed with that dog shot (from) Hargreaves.

“For me that’s a game changer … it’s just a hard one to swallow. One-hundred per cent (he should have been sent off).

“It was a clear shoulder to the head. It ended (Norman’s) debut.”

In September, Robinson spoke about Waerea-Hargreaves impact on his club.

“There’s not too many like him; it is a dying art,” Robinson said.

“He goes overboard sometimes but that’s the art of being a great enforcer. He knows when to push the limits.”

WAEREA-HARGREAVES ‘DOG SHOT’ A CUP KILLER

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves could be rubbed out of a World Cup quarter-final after being sin-binned for a high shot in New Zealand final pool game on Saturday morning (AEDT).

Waerea-Hargreaves was making his first appearance in the tournament after completing a three-game ban stemming from the Sydney Roosters’ elimination final loss to South Sydney.

But the Kiwis enforcer lasted just 13 minutes in his return before whacking Ireland forward Dan Norman across the jaw in their 48-10 romp.

It was however a successful return for New Zealand’s main star in Jahrome Hughes, who scored two tries and had a hand in three others on their way to advancing to the knockout rounds.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves could be suspended over this high shot.

The Kiwis had already notched up Group C victories over Lebanon (34-12) and Jamaica (68-6) and will now play the runners-up of Group B, likely to be Fiji, in the last eight in Hull on November 5.

“It was good to be back out, this is my first World Cup game ever,” Hughes told BBC.

“It was good to get a win over a strong Ireland team.

“We were a bit clunky at times. We really need to fix that up before the finals. Whoever we play next week we need to be better otherwise we will be in trouble. We’re not too far off our best. Once we get our combinations right we’ll be fine.” Hughes sidestepped his way over for a fine early individual try and the Melbourne Storm halfback was the driving force behind an attacking Kiwi performance that thrived off a tough defence that smothered the Irish side.

Match Highlights - New Zealand v Ireland 🇳🇿🇮🇪

📺 Watch every match LIVE via @kayosportspic.twitter.com/RwTKUdhPao

— NRL (@NRL) October 28, 2022

Ireland scored one try after Louis Senior intercepted, Ed Chamberlain having actually gifted the team a short-lived lead with an opening penalty.

But it was all New Zealand after that, Peta Hiku and Jordan Rapana both bagging two tries apiece at Leeds. Ronaldo Mulitalo also crossed as the Kiwis finished the first-half 24-6 up.

James Fisher-Harris went over for the 2008 world champions in the second period, followed by Hughes, stepping off his right foot and driving through two defenders for his second try of the match, and Kenny Bromwich.

Senior claimed his second of the match, and sixth in three games in the tournament, after following up on a scything Richie Myler kick and forcing Mulitalo into a mistake over his own tryline, pouncing on the ball as it came clear of the Kiwi winger’s grasp.

Joseph Manu had the final word for the Kiwis, however, skipping through a battle-weary Irish defence for a well-taken try.

Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Angus Crichton’s huge financial sacrifice to stay with Roosters