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Sydney Roosters respond to cross-code speculation surrounding off-contract star
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson says he’s found the public discourse surrounding Angus Crichton’s future at the club disappointing.
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Ahead of their home game at the SCG against Penrith on Saturday, Robinson moved to quell the hysteria which has developed over the last fortnight linking Crichton with a move away from Bondi.
AAP understands that the NSW Origin backrower agreed to a two-year contract late last year.
However, the deal could not be registered with the NRL due to the tightness of the club’s salary cap in 2023 following the club’s acquisition of Melbourne’s Brandon Smith.
The Roosters have given Crichton assurances that he will remain at the club despite reports linking him with a move to the Wests Tigers and rugby union.
“We know where we are at with Angus,” Robinson said.
“There’s been a lot of talk in the last couple of weeks everywhere and it’s been a little bit too much at times.
“We don’t come out publicly and talk about our stuff like that, there’s been enough talk rightly or wrongly in the background, which has been disappointing.
“We’ll just continue on and be honest with the players behind closed doors.”
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Crichton has looked much more assured since returning to his favoured left side in the back row and the forward has enjoyed a blossoming relationship with teenaged halfback Sam Walker.
Robinson’s side face Penrith for the first time this year knowing their recent record against Ivan Cleary’s side reads 4-0 in the Panthers’ favour.
“We’ve had some good contests with them in those games and they’ve been close for the most part,” Robinson said.
“We feel like we’re getting better and feel like we’re on the rise and there’s a lot of respect for the opposition, but we also know what we need to do.
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“I want to see how our form continue to rise in the areas that we care about and in stuff that we’ve labelled as important to us this year.”
Nat Butcher replaces Victor Radley at lock after the forward picked up an ankle injury in last week’s win over Parramatta.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
50 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments