In 2013 and 2014, Angus Crichton represented NSW and Australian Schoolboys, and played an integral role in the Scots College team that won the prestigious GPS schoolboy competition.
Despite showing immense talent and versatility across the back row and the centres, after finishing school, the Waratahs told Crichton he wouldn’t be playing Super Rugby until he was 23.
NRL club South Sydney, however, told him the opposite – that he’d be playing first grade as soon as he was ready.
On October 2014, Crichton signed with the Rabbitohs, making his debut in the cardinal and myrtle in 2016.
A meteoric rise saw him become a key member of the Rabbitohs’ squad and led to an Origin berth in 2018.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Since 2019, Crichton has been signed on a big-money contract with the Roosters, however rumours are beginning to swirl of Crichton’s dissatisfaction, linking him with a potential defection to rugby union.
While it can be dangerous to pay too much attention to the NRL rumour mill, it seems entirely plausible that Crichton may ask for a release from the last two years of his NRL deal, in which case he will likely sign with the Waratahs.
As reported by Fox Sports in December 2018, Crichton admitted that the 2023 Rugby World Cup is on his radar.
“Yeah of course,” he said. “You never want to sign a ten-year deal because you never know what the game is going to do, you never know what you’re going to do as a player. What you can achieve elsewhere.”
He admits that had the Waratahs or another Super Rugby club provided him with a real offer post-school, he never would have spoken to rugby league. So it is evident Crichton still has a burning desire to representing the Wallabies.
Given the bad luck rugby union has had when it comes to signing rugby league players in the past – not only with off-field issues but a struggle to successfully convert these players – there is reason for RA to be concerned about signing such a high-profile player as Crichton, who will command a big-money deal.
Unlike the league converts who have come before him, Crichton won’t carry the same type of risk due to his schoolboy years playing union.
While it may take a few seasons to re-varnish his rugby union skills and to convert him into a genuine rugby union centre, he already possess the innate rugby smarts that escapes almost all but the best league converts. This should make his conversion somewhat seamless.
In turn, his value to Australian rugby could be enormous. A devastating ball-runner and a ferocious defender, one could see Crichton as an immediate successor to Samu Kerevi following his departure to Japan at the end of this season.
Unlike Kerevi, however, Crichton has shown an ability as a ball player, putting players into holes and a capability to offload in the tackle.
For the first time ever, the Wallabies may finally possess a genuine 21st Century inside centre.
For too long the Wallabies have had to decide between a second playmaker or a crash ball-runner at No.12.
Finally, we may have someone who is capable of playing both roles, and could kick-start the Wallabies towards their 2023 campaign.
A partnership with Jordan Petaia would be a formidable centre pairing for the Wallabies, and provided they effectively start rebuilding after this year’s World Cup, could help turn them back into a Test powerhouse.
For years, Wallabies fans have mourned the loss of Angus Crichton to the NRL, however it seems the time for Angus to return home is rapidly approaching.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Crichton's obvious problem is that he rarely passes the ball and has no speed. He's like Josh Dugan.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Was thinking the same thing. And we wonder why the Wallabies are so unwatchable and dreary.
dazell
Roar Rookie
This on top of another signing a league player (ex-union) of Tepai Moeroa? https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/eels/fighting-back-the-tears-how-eels-rugby-recruit-broke-shock-news/news-story/125b79409a48bd2b990d7ba591eba902
Purdo
Roar Rookie
Well this sounds very positive. Two great young centres in the offing! Could they really, though "help turn the Wallabies back into a test powerhouse?" I think that requires lots more young players to emerge from a strong grassroots system.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
None were signed as centres. All were also older and more developed when they were signed. Crichton signed with the Rabbitohs nearly 2 years younger than these guys. The Waratahs didn't offer him a contract for the same reason they didn't offer them one at school. Limited contracts and only so many development spots among them. You can't sign many you don't expect to be ready the next year. Then there's also the consideration they had no need for any centers for 2015. They had Beale, Horne, AAC and Lance. In addition they had Horwitz, Carraro and Betham who would back up there. They in fact lost a previously signed centre and didn't bother replacing him, as they were covered for depth there. Just because other players debuted quite young, it doesn't mean every player will. Plenty of young prodigies fizzle out too. With regards to his debut you need to consider that it was the end of a season where the Rabbitohs were out of contention also. Stars had to align for him to get the start. He's kicked on really well, but he made his NRL debut after 2 Super Rugby seasons had passed since signing. Potentially he may not have been ready until 2017 Super Rugby. A lot to invest in a player.
Stu B.
Guest
With that record and at this age Angus could be a revelation but do not, repeat do not go to NSW rugby. The history of potential players converting and to union in NSW is diabolical. Izzy, Sailor, Lote, Rogers etc went there as excellent players and never improved in fact regressed if anything,SBW entered a different school and reached his ceiling. NSW appear to have a knack of contracting great players and potentially great players and converting them to ordinary performers.
Josh
Guest
Which NRL players have failed?I can't think of one that hasn't made at least super rugby level and most made test matches..SBW and Israel Folau are all time greats of Rugby..Teo and Burgess made a very strong English team..Koribeti arguably the best winger in Australia..Tahu played for Australia..Sailor,Lote,Rogers...Even Benji started at fly half for the Blues in quite a few games in a sport he hadn't played at senior level and imo was hard done by in a struggling team but is branded a failure...Who has failed?..And not one Rugby player has switched over to the NRL even when Quade Cooper put his hand up no NRL clubs picked him up..Due to country Rugby League declining NRL clubs have picked up a few Rugby players but at 15 or 16 and are the put into League training programs and benefit from that and the more physical nature of Rugby League..Also some of the talent that League supposedly poach from Union grow up playing League and then go to a Rugby High School where they dominate and make junior rep teams in Union,in some cases while still playing League on weekends..Not sure about Angus but I think he played both but claiming Tyson Frizelle,Cameron Murray and Kalyn Ponga as Union boys is just wrong
jeznez
Roar Guru
Agree we’d lose the support play but if we aren’t making breaks we don’t have that anyway. Just think we need a stronger defender there and Foley isn’t bringing enough of anything else to justify maintaining his place. I agree his commitment is great. It’s the outcomes that aren’t good enough. Hopefully CLL back otherwise I’d be trying To’omua
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Jeznez I said before last week's test that Foley's commitment to the tackle is fine and despite what happened I will stand by that statement. Foley always puts his body on the line, going low, front on, to tackle the big boys coming down his channel. However he is not that big and inevitably runners will pull through his tackles. At worst he is a good speed bump who slows runners enough for the backrow to get there and assist. The only other player who might do better is Toomua (and he is not much bigger than Foley), however what you might gain in defence you will lose in running and support play.
Macho
Guest
Obviously Rugby has a better international profile and a better post career prospect for himself and thanks to the NRL who has paid for him while he matured - his NRL days may have flattened his centre skills but you have to admire leaguies for the looseness with the truth "Given the parlous state of rugby union in Australia, form wise and financial wise, Crichton might not have anyone to play with by 2023." " are turned off by the ease with which islander players get to dump the national team of their birth & gain a walk up start into Australian rugby franchises on huge money." Lets talk about faux RL internationals held in western Sydney by "heritage " RL players with no resident islanders. No-one gets signed on big money in RU out of school that could match NRL because they are not fully grown and because that is only fully fledged Test RU players.. I understand he is now on the reserves for NSW and Roosters are looking at releasing him.
Rugby First
Roar Rookie
"To your 18 year old hooker – he would have been looking at parents, grandparents and any older siblings to see what the potential build was like. Not just whether he thought the kid looked like he could put on size." If it is the same person I am aware of he definitely would fail the genetic history size BUT pass with flying colours exceptional ability, skills and heart! or another example to support your comment! Why discriminate it is happening every week in Junior Rugby, the ARL is profiting from these rejects!
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Not to mention wingers who understand how help defend. A good way to learn is to play there in club football.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
Is another high priced signing from the NRL really the answer? Stay in League Angus and carve out a great career.
Perspicacious One
Roar Rookie
He'd be more suited to Union - has become tackle shy, good only at coming in late and laying on/holding down tackled players - might be good in mauls. His drop in form since Souths played is remarkable - lacks constitution and commitment.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Obviously they are selecting from kids that are all already top performers. They aren’t walking into classrooms and running tests on any random kid that wants to try playing rugby. The guy I spoke to actually said that every professional sport in Australia and America had basically concluded that the testable qualities that champion athletes had in common was certain psychological characteristics. We’re taking about the Reds here, of course, so take everything with a swimming pool worth of salt.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
Gee it would be a backward step for him professionally and culturally. But if he did he would lock in a place in the team. they don't drop players no matter how ordinary they become.
Harty
Roar Rookie
This doesn't sound like good science. My business is in predictive analytics. We aim to load the dice in favour of businesses making good decisions about talent but we're always aware of the exception to the rule. One of my clients best salespeople is un-hireable on his pure behavioural data, He doesn't have any of the traits we look for in high performing sales and yet he makes it work for him. He was hired on his past performance, despite the behavioural data. This is because the score is not the person and the best predictor of future performance is past performance. This biometric data is only one small element to consider. I would suggest that talent and skills should have more weighting for 18 year olds than their family background. Of course this does explain why our teams struggle to catch and pass accurately these days...
rob mccourt
Roar Rookie
And in further defence of Kerevi the missed tackle was not really from the normal 13 channel. He had just made a tackle, got up off the ground quickly and then did his best to make the tackle on the try scorer. The real question is if he had time to make a tackle, get up off the ground and almost save the try why couldn't one of the other 14 have covered for him.
Aiden
Guest
Jonathan Thurston. Too little to ever play in the NRL. Hmmmm. These scouts are idiots aren't they? Surely current form , the kid is belting up the opposition, gets a look in to a high degree as the key factor? Measuring their wrists!!! Are you kidding me!? Another sport. There is a little lopsided, lazy eyed, somewhat hunched guy running around called Lionel Messi. Not the ideal of an elite athlete ... and yet. Rugby in Australia is full of dumb decisions at every level it seems.
Aiden
Guest
To be fair, the 2017/18 version, only a few years out of union (which he played well, albeit not at pro level), making lots of breaks and good meters every run, defending well, would have been a better prospect than the slightly broken down prematurely jaded bloke running around at the moment.