Crichton open to permanent shift as new role fuels Bulldogs charge
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Canterbury skipper Stephen Crichton has revealed he is open to a long-term shift to five-eighth as his mid-season positional switch fuels the Bulldogs’ surge into finals contention.
The Bulldogs have won six of their last seven to climb into eighth place on the ladder leading into a showdown with the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.
The form surge has coincided with Crichton’s move to five-eighth midway through a golden point win over the Sea Eagles in Round 16. The shift has unlocked the skipper’s physical running game and playmaking skills while freeing young halfback Lachlan Galvin to play his natural game.
Stephen Crichton 2nd Try
While most anticipated Crichton’s move was a short-term fix, the continued success suggests he could have a long-term home in the halves and the 25-year-old revealed he is open to a permanent switch if it is best for the team.
“The transition has been good going in the halves,” Crichton said. “Whatever the team needs and once I know what position I’m playing at the start of the week, then I’m fully locked in and trying to grow.
“There’s still so much growth for me playing five-eighth to be better defensively and with the ball so I’m loving the transition.
“It’s always been team first for me and if it’s team first and Ciro picks me at six, then I’m all in on that. If I get picked in the centres and someone else can do the job, then I’m always for it.”
Match: Roosters v Bulldogs
Round 23 -
home Team
Roosters
2nd Position
away Team
Bulldogs
8th Position
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
A big crowd is expected at Allianz Stadium on Friday night when the Bulldogs put their title credentials on the line in an Indigenous Round blockbuster.
The two sides are in fine form, with the Roosters winning six-straight to climb to second on the ladder after last week’s record-breaking victory over the Cowboys.
The Bulldogs have improved each week with Crichton in the No.6 jumper and now sit inside the top eight for the first time since Round 6.
The skipper spent time during the pre-season training in the halves and he briefly stepped up as five-eighth during a Round 4 loss to the Knights.
With the Bulldogs staring down the barrel of missing the finals, coach Cameron Ciraldo pulled the trigger prior to the Sea Eagles win and the side hasn’t looked back.
The winning moment: Ice cold Critta
“We trained for it the whole week before [the Manly game],” Crichton said. “We wouldn’t just try it in the warm up and switch it up. I had a lot of repetition in the off-season as well just in case. Now we’ve switched it up, it’s been working good for our boys.
“With the training and repetition, confidence comes from preparation. The preparation for that week was really good and it worked a lot against Manly so we wanted to try it again. It’s been working really well and the growth is exciting.”
Crichton’s move has seen Matt Burton shift to the centres and relieved Galvin of some of the play-making duties.
The recent return of backrowers Viliame Kikau and Jacob Preston has also unlocked a new dimension in the team’s attack while their defensive zeal from the past couple of years has returned.
Jacob Preston Try
The Bulldogs have locked down their opponents defensively and conceded an average of just 10 points during their last six wins in a dramatic turnaround from their early-season struggles.
The attack has steadily developed in that time and Crichton is confident fans will see Galvin at his best in the run to the finals.
“The biggest learning for Lachy is being patient with the ball,” Crichton said. “He’s 21-years-old, I always forget that and he sees the game a lot different to a lot of other people.
“When he sees cues, he sees something, he’s always going to take it. The learning for Lachy is to be patient. I will always back him because more often than not, he always pulls off the right play. I’m always backing him regardless of what happens or what people say and it’s exciting.”
Don't miss a minute of the action when the in-form Bulldogs face the high-flying Roosters in a Friday-night blockbuster at Allianz Stadium. Tickets are selling fast, click here to secure your seats before they are all gone.
