Crichton open to filling Victor's shoes amid back-row logjam

Angus Crichton isn't willing to give up an edge spot at the Sydney Roosters without a fight but is open to playing a middle role for the side if necessary in its bid for a third consecutive title.

Crichton has watched Sonny Bill Williams arrive at the club and Sitili Tupouniua find form on the right edge while he worked his way back from a knee injury in Saturday night's win over the Raiders.

The timely return ahead of the 2020 Telstra Premiership finals series is bound to leave Roosters coach Trent Robinson with a selection headache leading into the business end of the season.

"I'd been frothing to get back out on the field, it was a long stint in rehab and I hadn't been out for that long in a while," Crichton said.

"When I did [the injury] it was always pretty bad, it felt pretty loose. The MCL is the lateral ligament that holds the knee from going to side-to-side so I felt like it was swinging in the end when I did it.

"It was a 6-8 week [injury], I did a month in a brace and then three weeks returning to run."

Robinson used Crichton for a 30-minute stint in a roaming lock role with Tupouniua punching out 80 minutes on his favoured right-edge spot for the seventh consecutive week.

Robinson indicated his intentions to give Williams time on the edge before the finals, leaving Crichton a chance to remain in the middle or start in place of Tupouniua down the track.

The Tricolours have been searching for potency in the middle of the field with a ball-playing forward since Victor Radley's season-ending knee injury in June.

"I'm not too sure [about future plans], my preferred position is the edge and I love playing on the edge but I think it's part of the coach's plan to start me in the middle," Crichton said.

"I see myself as a multi-faceted player and to be able to come in and showcase a bit of skill and have a bit of freedom with the ball was fun, it was good.

"Ice (Isaac Liu) has been doing a really good job there along with Siosiua Taukeiaho and Nat Butcher, even Teddy's been stepping up and passing in the mid-field.

"It's just about finding little ways in how to fill that void with Rads, he's been a massive loss to our team."

Crichton added Williams' star return to Bondi had already had a positive effect on him personally.

Crichton was eight years old when a baby-faced SBW made his NRL debut for the Bulldogs in 2004.

"As a kid he was that guy, and [he was for] thousands of other kids that age," Crichton said.

"To be in his presence, be able to train with and talk to him he's a really humble and open guy.

"It's been sick for me as a fan and athlete to get to know him a bit and what makes him tick … very cool, he's a world-class athlete."