CRICHTON BAN A BLOW FOR ROOSTERS
ANGUS Crichton is set to miss the start of next season after being charged for his forearm to the head of Chanel HarrisTavita by the World Cup match review committee.
Crichton was charged with a grade B reckless strike, leaving him facing a two-match ban to serve when he returns to the Sydney Roosters.
Harris-Tevita was knocked out and played no further part in the World Cup final after the Crichton blow, prompting Samoa coach Matt Parish to suggest he should have been sent off.
That stance was slammed by Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and a remorseful Crichton apologised to HarrisTevita, his family and the entire Samoan community immediately after the game, insisting it was an accident.
Crichton also revealed he was planning to travel to Amsterdam with Harris-Tevita and others after the final.
“First and foremost I was worried about him,” Crichton said. “He is a great player and I am actually meant to be travelling with him after this. There is no bad blood between me and Chanel.
“We talked after the game and we know there is all love there. It was honestly a genuine freak accident.
“I never want anyone to get injured on the field like that, especially knockouts. Two of my great mates in Jackie
Friend and Boyd Cordner, it has ruined their careers.
“So I never want to injure anyone. That was not my intention at all. So anyone I have upset, anyone in his family, anyone in the Samoan community that I have upset, I am genuinely sorry. I am looking forward to hanging out with him … I want to let the Samoan community know that there was no malice in it.”