“Oh yes, it was great,” she said as they watched Crichton and his teammates finally clinch the series for NSW in Sydney.

“We’d been to Melbourne for the first one, we felt we had to keep going,” she said of her first Origin series experience.

“Not at any stage were we confident.

“This is the first time I’ve had a relative playing in Origin.”

The Molong grandmother conceded she had more interest in rugby union but the experience had increased the appeal of rugby league.

“I wouldn’t be following the footy if it wasn’t for Angus,” she said.

Crichton lived in Young before moving to Sydney to follow his NRL dream.

About 35 friends from Young joined about 15 of his family members from Orange, Trangie and Walgett at the game.

Crichton’s aunt, Lisa Wettenhall of Orange, said it was great to see so many family members at the game.

“There was a lot of support,” she said.

“I had a great seat, I was sitting behind the interchange [area].”

Her brother Mick from Trangie said Crichton’s involvement had created a buzz for the family.

“There were close to 50 [family and friends] there especially to cheer him on.

“He’s created a lot of interest.

“It’s been really good. It’s dragged a lot of people to rugby league who had no interest in it before.”

Crichton, 22, played his junior football in Young before moving to Sydney.

He made his NRL debut for South Sydney in 2016 and made his State of Origin debut off the bench this year.

Crichton is moving to the Sydney Roosters next year after signing a three-year deal.

NSW won the game 18-14 and following a 22-12 win in the first game in Melbourne gave the Blues their first Origin series win since 2014.