NSW great Brad Fittler has backed South Sydney forward Angus Crichton to push for a Blues debut in the next few years.
The 21-year-old cemented his reputation as a star on the rise with a game-turning three-try effort in Friday's NRL comeback win over Gold Coast.
With both sides missing their State of Origin stars, Crichton was outstanding and is now being mentioned as a future representative player.
NSW City coach Fittler said Crichton made a big impression on NSWRL officials when he was part off the Emerging Blues camp in late 2015.
"We do some testing at NSW Rugby League, last year he was a part of the 20s group," Fittler told The Sunday Footy Show.
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"What you do you end up with a number and he was 10 per cent higher than the next person. That's for power, strength, agility, they have all these things they put into a computer, they come up with a score.
"He flogs them."
Having this year forced his way into Michael Maguire's starting 13, the powerful back-rower produced his best game in the Rabbitohs' 36-20 victory over the Titans.
As well as bagging a NRL career-first hat-trick, former schoolboy rugby union star Crichton ran for 194 metres, busted seven tackles and made four line breaks.
NSW are well placed for back-rowers with the likes of Boyd Cordner, Wade Graham, Josh Jackson and Tyson Frizell however Fittler said Crichton could be pushing for a spot soon.
"He is an athlete, he has a bit of Gorden Tallis about him, he's just wild and strong," Fittler said.
"I haven't watched him close enough in defence to see if he has any (deficiencies)."
