Sydney Roosters back-rower Angus Crichton has revealed the financial sacrifice he made to ensure he stays at the Sydney Roosters, claiming a desire to focus on becoming a better player and person helped him knock back bigger offers from elsewhere.
Crichton recently signed a two-year extension at the club he joined back in 2019, letting Tri-colours fans breathe a sigh of relief after talks stalled due to the ongoing salary cap negotiations between the NRL and the RLPA.
The 26-year-old has since confirmed that he willingly took a pay cut to ensure he remained at the Roosters, saying he couldn't see himself anywhere else.
“Yeah I did (take a paycut),” Crichton, who is currently in England as a member of Mal Meninga's Kangaroos squad, told the Daily Telegraph.
“I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I said ‘I don't care what you have to do, I want to get it done.'
“I was so clear in how much I love the place, the area and the people in it.
“I just have such a strong connection to the place and I don't want to walk away from it. It's a massive relief.
“There were moments where I didn't know if it was going to happen. I'm just really happy it's finalised, because I made it clear there was nowhere else I wanted to be.
“I didn't get to the point of looking around, but I got to the point where my agent said we might have to.
“I said ‘I don't want to entertain (any offers), I don't want to talk to anyone.'
“To get it over the line is a big relief.”
Crichton is due to reach two milestones in the famous Tri-colours kit following his extension. Provided he can remain injury-free he'll reach both his 150th NRL appearance and his 100th game for the Roosters in 2023.