Canterbury have wasted no time tabling an offer to Stephen Crichton, general manager Phil Gould declaring: “I doubt there is a football club anywhere in the world that wouldn’t like a player the calibre of Stephen Crichton on their playing roster.”
In the same week Crichton broke the news to Penrith coach Ivan Cleary and his teammates that this would be his last year at the club, the Bulldogs made their intentions clear.
Reports emerged on Thursday that a deal had been done to get Crichton to Belmore on a four-year contract worth about $3.3 million.
When asked if Crichton was Belmore bound, Gould told the Herald: “I hope it happens. We sent his management an official offer yesterday [Wednesday]. There’s no confirmation from them at this time.”
Pressed on why Crichton would be an ideal fit at the Bulldogs, Gould could not hide his admiration for the 22-year-old, who has also been linked with Wests Tigers and the Dolphins, while a fourth club contacted his management once the Penrith split was confirmed.
Canterbury have officially tabled an offer to Stephen Crichton.Credit:NRL Photos
“Stephen is a quality young man and a super player who is only just getting started with his football career,” Gould said. “Stephen would be an asset to any club.”
Having already poached head coach Cameron Ciraldo from the premiers, not to mention super boot Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau, Canterbury would have a genuine game-breaker at the back in Crichton.
The Panthers knew their ongoing success would present challenges in keeping their roster together, Api Koroisau (Tigers) departing the club with Kikau at the end of last season, a year after Burton left for Canterbury and Kurt Capewell linked with Brisbane.
Penrith still boast the competition’s greatest production line of young talent, and the club has added the experience of utility Tyrone Peachey for this year.
Meanwhile, the Panthers can expect some serious competition from St Helens whose boss declared the Super League champions were giving themselves every chance of trying to win the World Club Challenge next month.
Viliame Kikau looks set to be joined by former Penrith teammate Stephen Crichton at Belmore.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
Saints chief executive Mike Rush has enjoyed watching St Helens win the past four premierships in England, but said victory over Penrith, in their western Sydney backyard, would go down as one of the greatest achievements in the club’s 150-year history.
St Helens will have three different groups of players fly to Australia at the start of February on three days so they can be accommodated in business class, then spend the first week in Manly before moving to Sydney Olympic Park.
The summer heat will be the biggest issue for the players, Rush quipping: “Some of us get moon-burn, let alone sunburn.”
“Our players only have short careers, and how often will they get another opportunity like this?” Rush said. “It would be foolish of us to not come over and give it our best.
“If we were to win, it will go down as one of the greatest victories in the club’s history, because you’re 12,000 miles away from home, you’re playing in 30-degree heat and at the start of the season.”
Rush said he respected that Panthers’ World Cup stars had returned to training a week early so they could play against St Helens.
Penrith and St Helens will play for a $100,000 purse, the NRL announcing a separate $100,000 winner’s cheque for the team that takes out the two-week pre-season challenge.
Each team will receive 12 points for a win, six for a draw and a potential three further bonus points should they score five or more tries, make five or more line breaks and 10 or more offloads.
Rush welcomed the innovations and, while he hoped it would generate more interest in the trials and potentially bring more people through the gates, his only goal was victory over the Panthers.
While ready to use the trip to Australia to eye talent, Rush said: “The biggest challenge for UK clubs was keeping NRL clubs away from our players”.
Rush was not prepared to nominate any of his top players who he felt would do well Down Under, but good judges have a lot of time for Jack Welsby and halfback Lewis Dodd.
