Roosters star Angus Crichton suffers unlucky setback days away from NRL return after bipolar shock

Angus Crichton is poised to make his NRL comeback via NSW Cup competition as the Sydney Roosters prepare for a massive return of up to seven players this weekend – but one of his teammates may need to give him a lift to training.

Crichton will be named for his first game of 2023 for the Sydney Roosters on Tuesday, and will face Newtown at Henson Park on Saturday after sitting out the start of the season following a bipolar diagnosis.

Before his return, Crichton revealed that he suffered another setback: the theft of his moped.

While the 27-year-old has been largely silent on social media in recent months as he worked on his mental health, he posted on Instagram on Saturday that his beloved moped had been stolen.

Crichton posted the image of the vehicle with the caption, “Anyone who saw my moped was taken off the front of my house, hard to miss.”

Angus Crichton posted this photo to his social media over the weekend, revealing that his moped had disappeared

The moped includes a series of stickers and a cute image of a dog hanging out in a bag dangling from the handlebars.

It is unknown if Crichton’s ride has been recovered.

Fellow second-rower Sitili Tupouniua and center Billy Smith will also join him in the reserve class as they make their comeback from torn ACLs suffered last July.

Their return marks the start of a round of good news for the Roosters.

James Tedesco went through training on Monday after returning from a concussion and will be assigned to face Cronulla on Friday evening.

Superstar James Tedesco (pictured treated after a high shot from Parramatta’s Bailey Simonsson) will be a big addition for the Chooks against Cronulla

Matt Lodge will bring starch to the Roosters forward after going down in the first round with a facial injury

Matt Lodge could also be available for the first time since he suffered a bad facial injury in the first round after a nasty blow to the Dolphins.

Nathan Brown could also play his first game in the NSW Cup for the Roosters of feeder club North Sydney, having signed from Parramatta while struggling with a hamstring injury.

And Dylan Napa is likely to play in the lower leagues this weekend, after returning from Catalans in the English Super League and having to complete a pre-season.

All lower rank returnees come back through the Roosters in NSW Cup or feeder club North Sydney, ending any hope of a stacked team running around in reserve class.

But it’s Crichton’s comeback that will please the Roosters the most.

Nathan Brown, Parramatta’s grand finalist for 2022, will make his first appearance since signing with the Tricolors

Former Roosters enforcer Dylan Napa has returned to the club after a stint playing for Super League’s Catalans in France

The second-rower last played during Australia’s victory in last season’s Rugby League World Cup and has since revealed his bipolar diagnosis.

The 27-year-old sought treatment for his condition before the start of the season and entered a mental health facility before returning to Roosters training in recent weeks.

“It’s good for him,” said Roosters center Joey Manu.

“I can’t wait to see him with us again. He needs to get some playing time in him and hopefully he’ll be back here soon.

“He looks good, fit and strong. It’s good to have him around, he has good energy. It’s good to see him there again, he’s happy.’

The Roosters returnees mark a major turnaround from the start of 2023.

At one point, seven of their front-line stars were unavailable or in doubt at the start of the season, but Connor Watson is now the sole figure in the club’s emergency department.