Canterbury has made changes to their leadership, removing Matt Burton and Reed Mahoney as captains and appointing Stephen Crichton, a new recruit from Penrith, as the sole skipper despite not yet playing a match for the club.
Acknowledging Burton and Mahoney’s leadership efforts in the 2023 season, which saw Canterbury struggle and finish 15th, the club thanked them for their service.
Mahoney, in particular, hinted at the toll the captaincy took on his performance. The decision to replace them came after Raymond Faitala-Mariner departed for St George Illawarra.
Crichton’s appointment at just 23 years old, with no prior appearances for Canterbury, adds intrigue, especially given uncertainties about his playing position for the upcoming season. Although initially expected to play at fullback, he will feature in the centres for his only trial match against Cronulla.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo believes Crichton’s leadership will inject positivity into the team, citing his ability to uplift morale and sense the team’s mood.
Meanwhile, the NSW Rugby League aims to expand its reach into the Pacific, considering fielding teams from Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga in its main competition. Papua New Guinea is also on track to join the NRL by 2026 or 2027.
Fiji is progressing in this regard, with the Kaiviti Silktails set to participate in the NSWRL’s U21 Jersey Flegg competition for the first time, with plans to enter the NSW Cup by 2027. This mirrors PNG’s pathway, which began with entry into the Queensland Cup in 2014 before becoming an NRL expansion prospect.
