Angus Crichton has placed the Rugby League World Cup on the backburner has he eyes a fairytale farewell from the NRL and Sydney Roosters.
Just one game into his comeback from foot surgery, Crichton claims he's not worthy of or fit enough for a place in Kevin Walters' 23-man Kangaroos squad for the October-November showpiece in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
"I'm just so focused on the next couple of weeks and obviously right now I'm battling with this foot," Crichton told AAP ahead of the Roosters' preliminary final with the Dolphins on Friday night.
"And if I'm being honest with you, there's back-rowers that are more deserving than me at the minute."
In reality, the 2025 Ashes tourist and 17-game NSW State of Origin stalwart would likely be among one of the first picked if he put his hand up.
But with Crichton heading to the NSW Waratahs at season's end, the 30-year-old would need a special exemption from Rugby Australia to even be considered for the World Cup, which ends on November 15.
Crichton is due to report for Waratahs duty on November 7 or in mid-October to RA if Wallabies coach Les Kiss wants the former Australian schoolboys star to travel with Australia A for two matches in the USA.
Little wonder Crichton is focused solely on the Roosters and his ongoing recovery after being out longer than he initially hoped.
"Three months is a long time to be sitting there on the sidelines watching the boys. It's been a long process. I'm glad to finally be back," said Crichton, who is thankful his first son, Sullivan, came in April.
"It was actually, it was a blessing in a way to have a bit of a distraction there because I've got a pretty busy mind at the best of times.
"So when you've got a lot more time on your hands, there's some tough moments."
After 212 NRL games, including 157 for the Roosters since joining in 2019, Crichton is intent on bowing out with a bang.
"It's all or nothing for us," he said.
"We just got to focus on this next game and everything that goes into it and just getting our bodies right and our minds in the right place to be primed.
"For me, it's 12 weeks post-op and the foot's still sore and it's been a tough road. But doing that role off the bench, the adrenaline gets into you and and you can make it work."
Crichton isn't the only Rooster leaving for the Waratahs. He will be linking with Roosters assistant Michael Cheika, who is returning to Daceyville 13 years after coaching the Tahs to their still one and only Super Rugby title.
"We don't talk about it," Crichton said of the elephant in the Roosters' dressing room.
"Obviously we both know that that's going to be happening and that'll be great, but right now we're just focused on the job at hand."
The 11-Test star and 2019 premiership winner isn't completely ruling out an NRL comeback after his two-season stint in rugby, which he hopes will include next year's World Cup in Australia.
"I'm always open to returning here but I'm pretty all in. If I'm doing something, I'm having a solid crack at," Crichton said.
"Right down the track, I could potentially come back to the league but the way I'm viewing this is this is my last couple of games of my NRL career and I'm looking to begin a new career."
