The Sydney Roosters have sought salary-cap relief from the NRL after the timeline on sidelined star Angus Crichton blew out following his diagnosis with bipolar disorder.
Crichton was granted indefinite leave by the Roosters after his father put out a statement explaining why the 27-year-old had taken time away from the game.
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According to Andrew Webster at the Sydney Morning Herald, Crichton won’t be available for training for at least 10 weeks before any sort of assessment is made.
It is a major blow for the Roosters after it had been reported last week the NSW State of Origin star could return as early as Round 3.
Crichton is reportedly on a $750,000 salary for this season and next.
Webster reports Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly discussed the idea with NRL head of integrity Jason King.
NRL boss Andrew Abdo has said that any decision on cap relief, which is normally given for players injured in representative fixtures, suffering career-ending injuries, or stood down by the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy for serious criminal charges.
Abdo said it was a “challenging question.”
“It’s an injury like any other injury, and in the past, we haven’t given salary-cap relief,” he said.
“The salary cap auditor is empowered to look at certain situations within certain parameters.
“With appropriate, independent advice, it will be looked at.”
Given the potential for cap relief to be abused by clubs given the less physical element to mental health issues compared to other injuries, Abdo is cautious.
“If it’s material, in terms of length, there’s an opportunity to look at it.
“But it gets carefully assessed.”
If the Roosters are refused relief for Crichton’s circumstances, they would be justified in feeling hard done by, given that they were also refused relief for former captain Boyd Cordner’s concussion woes.
Cordner was later medically retired, proving that the injuries in question were material enough to end a career.
Former Blues coach Laurie Daley said on the Big Sports Breakfast that the Roosters needed Crichton in order to contend.
“I think it would be a relief now knowing exactly what’s been happening with bipolar,” Daley said.
“Hopefully Angus comes back a bigger and better player.
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“If they’re to win the competition, they need a fit Angus Crichton.”
At the time of the bombshell announcement, Crichton’s father said: “I can confirm today that Angus is under appropriate professional support and treatment for medically diagnosed bipolar disorder which he has been dealing with for some time”.
The Roosters are also unclear on the contractual position of teenager Joseph Suaalii, with the former Souths junior holding an option on his contract for next season and reports of Rugby Australia’s interest ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
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