LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
Angus Crichton has expressed mixed feelings about Robert Toia's selection for the Maroons, congratulating him while also forewarning him of the challenges he will face in his Origin debut.
Toia, who has only played 10 NRL games for the Sydney Roosters, is noted to be the least experienced Maroons player since Ben Ikin, who was chosen in 1995 with just four premiership matches for the Gold Coast Seagulls.
Crichton acknowledged the difficult task ahead for Toia, stating, "'Me and Trell will be going after him.'" This highlights the pressure and intensity that Toia will encounter competing against seasoned players like Latrell Mitchell.
Comparatively, NSW prop Payne Haas made his debut in 2019 after 10 NRL matches but did not face the same level of scrutiny, as he plays in the middle and avoided direct matchups with prominent stars.
This sets the stage for Toia's debut to be particularly demanding.
Overall, Toia's selection is both a significant achievement and a daunting challenge, as he steps into a high-stakes environment with limited top-level experience.