Kangaroos ahead Angus Crichton has been slapped with a two-game ban and is about to be sidelined for the opening rounds of the 2023 NRL season.
After Australia’s 30-10 victory over Samoa within the World Cup ultimate the 26-year-old was hit with a Grade B placing cost for a forearm to Samoan star Chanel Harris-Tavita’s head.
Crichton was despatched to the sin bin simply after halftime of the conflict and Harris-Tavita didn’t return, remaining sidelined resulting from concussion protocols.
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Harris-Tavita surprised the rugby league world earlier this 12 months by saying he can be taking an indefinite break from the game.
While it wasn’t a great end to the 23-year-old’s World Cup marketing campaign, Crichton insisted that there was no vicious intent within the incident.
“I didn’t know he was coming and there was no malice at all, sending out my blessings to his family,” Crichton mentioned.
“It is all love between me and Chanel, I spoke to him after the game and I apologised, whenever I play football I don’t try to injure anyone.
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“I never want to see anyone get injured on a football field, we love rugby league because of the nature of the sport, we don’t go out there trying to hurt people.
“I just want everyone to know it was just a genuine reaction, I never go out on the field to try and hurt someone.
“He’s a great player and I am actually meant to be travelling with him after this so there’s no bad blood between me and Chanel.
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“He’s great friends with Nathan Cleary, who I am also great mates with… I am genuinely sorry for that, it was not my intention at all.”
Meanwhile, a pissed off Matt Parish believed the Roosters backrower was fortunate to not be despatched off.
“Five minutes into the second half our hooker gets elbowed in the head and gets carted off, then the referee makes a weak decision and puts him in the bin, dumbfounded,” Parish mentioned.
“An elbow to the head and the hooker gets knocked out and taken out of the game.”