NRL pre-season pictures: Former Roosters teammates reunite to watch Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Wallabies

Angus Crichton made a return to his rugby roots but only from the sidelines, watching Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and the Wallabies in Scotland in what turned out to be a Roosters reunion. See the latest pre-season news and pictures.

Spencer Leniu bucks party

Angus Crichton has carved time out of his European getaway to cheer on former Sydney Roosters teammate turned Wallaby Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in Scotland.

But Crichton wasn’t alone in what turned into a Roosters reunion in the stands with former Tricolours enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who has joined Super League club Hull KR in 2025, also on hand at Murrayfield Stadium.

Suaalii has made an immediate splash since debuting for the Wallabies but his night in Scotland ended on a sour note.

Rugby Australia’s $5 million man was left reeling from a tackle on Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu, forcing him from the field with a suspected fractured wrist after just 30 minutes.

Wallabies medical staff are waiting on scans to confirm the extent of the injury but are optimistic the injury is not as serious as initially feared. A fracture could see Suaalii spend six weeks on the sidelines.

Ironically, Australian born and raised Tuipulotu – the man on the other side of the Suaalii tackle – is one of the Crichton’s closest friends and the Roosters star also made sure to catch up with the Scotland captain.

Angus Crichton with former teammates Wallaby Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Angus Crichton with close friend and Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu.

Crichton has been in the United Kingdom, enjoying some well earned rest and relaxation after a huge year for the Roosters star, who finished the season as one of the form back rowers in the game.

Crichton and his partner Chloe have been taking in the sights of London, even stopping by the Number One cafe in London – one the iconic filming locations of the hit Netflix series Top Boy.

Angus Crichton at the famous Top Boy cafe in London.

Angus Crichton in London with his partner Chloe.

After donning the green and gold for the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championships, Crichton isn’t due back to pre-season at the Bondi Junction club until the new year.

The Test call-up capped a successful season for Crichton, which included a two-year $1.6 million extension at the Roosters and a return to the Origin arena.

Victor Radley and Spencer Leniu will return to pre-season with Crichton on January 6, while skipper James Tedesco and Connor Watson will kick off 2025 preparations next Monday.

CLEARY, LUAI ABSENT AS FORMER PANTHERS REUNITE

Sydney Roosters star Spencer Leniu has reunited with former Penrith teammates for his bucks party on a Sydney Harbour cruise but there were two very notable absentees in Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary.

The former champion Panthers halves pairing were both north of the border over the weekend, spotted on family holidays on the Gold Coast.

The Cleary clan, including coach Ivan Cleary, enjoyed some downtime at the Burleigh Pavilion – one of the Gold Coast’s most popular drinking holes.

A relaxed looking Nathan Cleary, spotted without his sling, is recovering from shoulder surgery after going under the knife to repair the injury, which he carried during the finals series.

The star halfback is in the early stages of his three-month recovery from the Latarjet procedure and isn’t scheduled to start non-contact training until the new year.

Cleary had spent around three weeks in Europe, after helping guide Penrith to four-straight titles, with girlfriend and Matildas star Mary Fowler.

Nathan and Ivan Cleary enjoy a family holiday on the Gold Coast.

Jarome Luai with his kids on the Gold Coast

The loved-up sporting power couple’s next rendezvous will likely be in Australia over Christmas and new year when Fowler breaks from her Manchester City duties when the Women’s Super League takes a four-week winter hiatus.

Luai also made the most of what is left from his off-season break, flying to Queensland for a beach side getaway with his young family on the Gold Coast.

The marquee Wests Tigers recruit isn’t officially set to return to training until late December after touring England with Samoan side for a three-game Test series.

Jarome Luai spotted in Tigers training gear for the first time.

A photo of Luai in Tigers training kit has been floating around social media but a club official confirmed that the 27-year-old has not hit the training paddock yet.

But in a bid to build his halves combination with Lachlan Galvin, it’s expected Luai will make a number of appearances at Concord over the next few weeks to get to know his new teammates and familiarise himself with his new surroundings.

Spencer Leniu with former Penrith teammates at his bucks party.

Spencer Leniu with his former Penrith teammates on a harbour cruise for his bucks party.

Back in Sydney, Leniu hit the water for a buck’s party ahead of his impending nuptials to long-term partner Alexia.

It was a star studded affair with former Penrith premiership-winning teammates Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Sunia Turuva and Izack Tago on hand to celebrate on Saturday afternoon.

Stephen Crichton cut a fit figure on his first day of pre-season training. Picture: Bulldogs

Cameron Murray enjoys some time on the beach with his young family as he recovers from a wrist injury.

Canterbury skipper Crichton also reported to Belmore for his first day of pre-season late last week and cut a fit and athletic figure.

Known for his commitment to training, Crichton’s physical condition on day one will no doubt set the tone for his Bulldogs teammates over the summer.

The 24-year-old also got married during the off-season before heading to Hawaii for an adventure filled honeymoon with his new wife Leone.

While on the northern beaches, Siosiua Taukeiaho, 32, has began is comeback trail to the NRL. The two-time Roosters premiership winner, who is returning to the NRL after a stint with Catalans, was put through his paces last week as he fights for a Round 1 spot on the bench.

South Sydney skipper Cameron Murray was spotted over the weekend sporting an unlikely beach accessory – a black cast on his wrist. Murray, who was soaking up Sydney’s warm weather with his baby daughter, went under the knife after suffering a serious wrist injury while in Kangaroos camp.

Murray’s untimely injury is a huge blow to new coach Wayne Bennett’s pre-season preparations after this masthead revealed the hardworking forward could be sidelined for up to six months.

Originally published as NRL pre-season pictures: Former Roosters teammates reunite to watch Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Wallabies