Sydney Roosters stars have backed second-rower Angus Crichton to retain his NSW Origin jersey as he prepares for his first NRL match of the season in Tuesday’s ANZAC Day clash with St George Illawarra.
Crichton, who played 80 minutes in last weekend’s NSW Cup match against Newtown, has only been back in training for three weeks after taking time away from the game due to mental health issues.
However, the Kangaroos forward has impressed enough in that time to convince team-mates that he should still be in serious contention for the Blues squad to be named on May 21.
“He has got a month,” halfback Luke Keary said. “He has done a job for them for a number of years now, so I am sure his name will be there again.
Kangaroos Debutants - Angus Crichton
“He has just got to get back with us and show that he is ready to play Origin, and ready to play 80 minutes again. He is an Australian back-rower, and he is a big presence for us on the edge.
“It is probably going to take a little while to get that conditioning again but I see no reason why he wouldn’t be there or thereabouts.”
Roosters, NSW and Australian captain James Tedesco, who spent seven weeks with Crichton in England during last year’s successful World Cup campaign, never doubted he would return.
However, Tedesco admitted that he had been surprised by how quickly Crichton had hit his stride after a limited preparation since returning home from the World Cup.
“It is a real credit to him. He missed the start of the year really, and has only been back two or three weeks, but he did a lot of training by himself,” Tedesco said.
“He got through 80 minutes on the weekend and now he has come back into the team. He is a Test and Origin player, so he is going to add a lot to our team.”
Crichton is a popular and highly respected member of the Roosters squad, and team-mates showed their support for him by turning out in force to watch his comeback at Henson Park last Saturday.
“I think he just wanted to be back with the boys and since he has been back, he has been in high spirits,” Tedesco said.
“It was hurting him not being around the club and team, and watching the games on TV He just wanted to be around us and since he has been back, he has been in great spirits. He looks to be back to himself.
I think he just missed that camaraderie and seeing the boys every day.
"It is great to have him back, he is a great quality person and player. I think he just needed to go through what he had to to get himself on the right path.
“I thought it might take him a bit longer but it is a credit to him how he has handled everything.”
Keary added: “I am just happy to see him back with a smile on his face and playing footy. We all know what he has gone through”.