'Worse than Latrell': Calls for NRL to punish Angus Crichton after ugly act ignored
NRL fans and commentators are questioning why Angus Crichton wasn't penalised or charged by the match review committee for attacking the face of Lachlan Ilias in the Roosters' win over the Dragons on Anzac Day. Crichton was penalised two weeks ago against the Broncos when he led with his elbow while carrying the ball and collected Adam Reynolds in the throat.
A similar incident occurred on Friday when the Roosters forward raised his arm into Ilias' face during a hit-up. With Crichton standing in the tackle, he then deliberately attacked Ilias' face with his free hand three times, before being taken to ground.
With Ilias lying underneath him, Crichton then pressed his elbow and forearm into his opponent's head and throat - a clear attempt to rattle the much smaller halfback and show him who's boss. But many felt Crichton's actions crossed a line.
Inexplicably, the referee pinged Ilias for a ruck infringement and gave the Roosters a set restart. But many were of the opinion that Crichton should have been penalised.
Players in possession of the ball are allowed to fend tacklers in the face or head with their hand, but they can't raise their forearm or elbow. And they certainly shouldn't be allowed be hit defenders in the face when they're not making a genuine attempt to fend off and free themselves.
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Speaking in commentary for Fox League, Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander said a defender would have been penalised for the treatment that Crichton gave Ilias. But because Crichton was the attacker it was deemed ok (for some bizarre reason).
"Crichton went double palm on Lachlan Ilias, then a forearm and an elbow," Voss said. "You can almost have grounds for a penalty against man in possession."
Alexander added: "If that was a defender he would have been penalised." Voss replied: "100 per cent. Crichton knew what he was doing and it was all attacking the head of Ilias."
TV viewers also took to social media to complain about Crichton, who wasn't charged by the match review committee on Saturday morning either. The only charge to come from the match (won 46-18 by the Roosters) was a $1000 fine for Sandon Smith for a high shot on Ilias.
One fan went as far as to suggest Crichton's actions were worse than those of Latrell Mitchell, who was slapped with a one-game suspension for a high tackle that concussed Sua Fa'alogo on Friday night. While Mitchell's hit was careless, there was an accidental nature to it because Fa'alogo slipped into the contact. However there was nothing accidental about Crichton attacking Ilias' head, which was labelled "dirty" and "grubby" by others on social media.
Writing for , editor Matt Russell called on the NRL to crack down on ball-carriers raising their arms illegally. "It's only going to be a matter of time before Crichton really hurts someone, not to mention the double standards that Brandy (Alexander) raised," he wrote. "It's a good point, too. What punishment would he have copped as a defender?"
So unlike Crichton to go after the smaller man and attack the head.
— CAPEL (@laurencecapel) April 25, 2025
Angus Crichton so dirty. #NRLRoostersDragons
— oldmatespicy ☘⚡️ (@oldmatespicy) April 25, 2025
Unpopular opinion #NRL2025 @NRL What Angus Crichton was doing by elbowing a player laying on the ground was worse than the latrelle Mitchell tackle #NRLStormSouths #NRLRoostersDragons
— kane wilson (@kanewillow1990) April 25, 2025
@BuzzRothfield I hope Angus Crichton is cited for that crap. You can make comment on that as much as you do about the Bulldogs.
— Greg Hancock (@GregHancock2905) April 25, 2025
i see angus crichton is continuing his grubby ways against halfbacks
— abby | aang lovebot (@lowkeyabby) April 25, 2025
Angus Crichton goes the triple fend to the face, then an elbow to Ilias on the ground and somehow gets rewarded with a six again?You beauty
— Scott Pryde (@sk_pryde) April 25, 2025
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