Angus Crichton’s finger issue revolves around a finger amputation he underwent to continue his rugby league career. Here’s a concise timeline and the key outcomes based on available reporting:
- What happened: Crichton had a ruptured tendon in the middle finger of his left hand that failed to heal despite multiple surgeries. He opted to amputate part of the finger to stop the ongoing problems and avoid further reconstructions. This decision was made after years of painful, recurring injuries to that digit. The amputation occurred in late 2017/early 2018, with public discussions and media coverage following the decision.
- Immediate rationale: The finger repeatedly required surgeries and fusions, with limited prospects for a complete, durable recovery. By choosing amputation, Crichton aimed to return to training and competition faster and with less pain, avoiding cycles of additional reconstructions.
- Aftermath and career impact: Remarkably, Crichton returned to high-level competition relatively quickly after the procedure, and within months he was involved in elite representative rugby league, including State of Origin for New South Wales. This unlikely comeback is frequently cited as a testament to his determination and adaptation after the amputation.
- Public perception and ongoing discussion: The decision was framed in several interviews and profiles as a pragmatic trade-off—losing a finger to preserve overall athletic ability and career longevity. Crichton has discussed the adjustments needed to relearn skills such as catching and passing, and how the change affected his gameplay.
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent updates or provide direct quotes from specific articles to give more context on his post-amputation career and current status.
