Angus Crichton has gone from NSW Cup to NSW's best, awarded the Brad Fittler Medal as the Blues' most valuable player in their State of Origin series win.
Crichton was handed the prestigious honour at a gala dinner at The Star in Sydney on Monday night, capping an incredible turnaround for the Sydney Roosters star.
Dropped to the reserve-grade NSW Cup at the start of the season, Crichton returned to the NRL in round three and has been the best back-rower in the league this year.
He collected the Wally Lewis Medal for best player in the Origin series, before being voted NSW's best by the players and coaching staff.
"It has been wild, and the way to describe it has been bizarre," Crichton said.
"A lot of people doubted me and put a line through my name and counted me out.
"I remember not getting picked for round one and it really hurt, because I trained so hard over the off season.
"I just had to back myself and believe in myself."
After a series in which he menaced rival Daly Cherry-Evans and left his mark on the Maroons, Crichton was also named the fans' choice player of the year for NSW.
The 28-year-old ran an average of 162 metres per game, made 61 tackles for the series, had 10 offloads and two line-break assists.
Perhaps more impressive than anything has been Crichton's rebound, after he spent time out of the game last year for personal reasons and detailed his battle with bipolar disorder.
"It's pleasing for not only myself but also my family and friends," Crichton said.
"The people who put so much work into me in the last few years. It's just as much their award as mine."
Captain Jake Trbojevic was awarded the True Blue Medal after leading NSW to a series victory in his first year as skipper.
Jaime Chapman was named the NSW women's Origin player of the year, after the Gold Coast winger starred in the Blues' series-opening win.
NSW dominated the first game and a half of the series, but were still beaten 2-1 by Queensland.
Newcastle second-rower Yasmin Clydsdale was awarded the women's Sky Blues Award.
2024 BRAD FITTLER MEDAL MAIN AWARDS
Brad Fittler Medal: Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
True Blue Medal: Jake Trbojevic (Manly)
People’s Choice Awards: Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters), Jaime Chapman (Gold Coast)
NSW Women’s State of Origin Player of the Year: Jaime Chapman (Gold Coast)
Sky Blues Award: Yasmin Clydsdale (Newcastle)
Men's Under 19s Origin Player of the Year: Chevy Stewart (Canberra)
Women's Under 19s Origin Player of the Year: Kasey Reh (Illawarra)
NSW Cup Player of the Year: Adam Cook (Canberra)
NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year: Leilani Wilson (Wentworthville)
