Crichton aims to help Burton regain his former peak performance at the Bulldogs.

Stephen Crichton has pledged to revivec’s former brilliance on Canterbury’s talented left edge as the Bulldogs’ newly appointed captain readies himself to begin the NRL season at center.

In Friday night’s pre-season defeat to Cronulla, Crichton captained a team for the first time in his career, playing 20 minutes at left center at Belmore.

Uncertainty still surrounds the composition of the Bulldogs’ backline for round one, with Blake Taaffe enduring a challenging night at fullback against the Sharks.

However, after spending time training at fullback during the pre-season, Crichton now seems most likely to start at center against Parramatta when the Dogs kick off their campaign on March 9.

On paper, Canterbury boasts one of the strongest edges in the competition, with Viliame Kikau, Burton, and Crichton having won a premiership together at Penrith, while Kangaroos Test star Josh Addo-Carr remains one of the NRL’s fastest wingers.

But the form of Burton will be pivotal in translating that potential from theory to reality.

Burton received positive news on Saturday, escaping a charge for a high tackle on Cronulla’s Daniel Atkinson and being given the green light to play in round one.

The 23-year-old has struggled to find his footing since moving from Penrith to Canterbury in 2022, prompting suggestions for him to transition from the halves to center at the end of last year.

“Burto running the ball is a significant factor,” Crichton commented.

“He’s been relatively quiet over the past few seasons, and I’m aiming to unleash him, to allow him to play freely and instinctively.

“Every NRL player performs at their best when they are content both on and off the field.

“On and off the field, it’s crucial that we’re always on the same page. Even if mistakes occur, it’s about quickly reconnecting with him.

“He’s also leading our left edge. He’s been excellent.”

Despite their successful history at Penrith, Crichton stressed that it is not as straightforward as him, Burton, and Kikau running the same plays on the left at the Bulldogs.

“Everything has probably changed since the last time I played with Burto and Kiks,” Crichton remarked.

“We possess many new strengths on the edge, and we’re striving to devise plays that capitalize on our strengths and bring out our best.”

Crichton is eager to instill the Penrith work ethic at Canterbury under former Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo.

Despite being new to Belmore and having never captained a team before, the 23-year-old center was named captain on Thursday, partly due to his experience at a successful club.

“With the experience I’ve gained over the past few years at a successful club… I’m passing on some lessons I’ve learned to the younger boys,” Crichton explained.

“I’m focused on perfecting my own mentality leading into games. If I can learn to lead myself first, I can lead the team.”