\u201cI can understand and respect his decision to try another sport. He\u2019s done a lot in our game, he\u2019s been great for our game. He\u2019s moving on to another challenge and another sport, but he still has another year in the NRL.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if he can produce what he did last year \u2026 that was probably the best football he has played in his career.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is nothing in Crichton\u2019s rugby deal that requires him to make himself available for the Wallabies\u2019 spring tour. Wallabies players are paid $10,000 for every Test appearance on tour, while Kangaroos players pocketed $3000 for each Ashes Test, but money will have no bearing on Crichton\u2019s final call.<\/p>\n
Penrith\u2019s Liam Martin will return for the Kangaroos after sitting out the Ashes for the birth of his first child, while Canberra\u2019s Hudson Young, Canterbury\u2019s Jacob Preston, North Queensland\u2019s Reuben Cotter, and Gold Coast\u2019s Beau Fermor are other second-row options. Even South Sydney\u2019s Keaon Koloamatangi can play on an edge.<\/p>\n
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Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh made it known last week Crichton would be considered for an immediate call-up for the spring tour. \u201cI think there\u2019s a sensible transition to hit the markers that we want to hit and our aspirations at the Rugby World Cup, the longer the team\u2019s together and we\u2019re building cohesion and combinations, then the better prepared we\u2019re going to be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Walters said he had started planning for the World Cup, despite his contract expiring in July \u2013 three months before the event kicks off on home soil. Sources with knowledge of Walters\u2019 contract situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed Walters would remain in the top post.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not in a rush,\u201d Walters said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had some meetings already and some discussions around planning for the Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n