Crichton wants to return Burton to his best
Stephen Crichton is determined to revitalize Matt Burton’s former prowess on Canterbury’s esteemed left side as he gears up to begin the NRL season at center, taking on the role of the Bulldogs’ new captain.
In Friday night’s preseason match against Cronulla, Crichton assumed the captaincy for the first time in his career, featuring for 20 minutes at left center in Belmore.
The composition of the Bulldogs’ backline for Round 1 remains uncertain, with Blake Taaffe facing challenges at fullback against the Sharks. However, following preseason training stints at fullback, Crichton now seems poised to start at center against Parramatta as the Bulldogs embark on their campaign on March 9.
On paper, Canterbury, a team that has struggled to score points over the past seven seasons, now boasts one of the league’s strongest edges. With Viliame Kikau, Burton, and Crichton having clinched a premiership together at Penrith, alongside Kangaroos Test star Josh Addo-Carr, one of the NRL’s fastest wingers, expectations are high. Yet, Burton’s performance will be pivotal in actualizing this potential on the field.
Since his move from Penrith to Canterbury in 2022, Burton, 23, has not quite flourished, prompting suggestions for him to transition from the halves to center towards the end of last year.
Crichton emphasized the significance of Burton’s ball-running abilities, aiming to unlock his potential and encourage him to play instinctively and joyfully, believing that players perform at their best when content both on and off the field.
Despite their successful history at Penrith, Crichton acknowledged that replicating their past performances on the left edge at the Bulldogs wouldn’t be straightforward due to the evolution of their strengths and tactics. Under former Panthers assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo, Crichton is eager to instill Penrith’s work ethic at Canterbury.
Despite his lack of previous captaincy experience and his recent arrival at Belmore, Crichton’s selection as captain reflects his commitment to sharing the lessons learned from his years at a successful club and his determination to lead by example, starting with mastering his own mindset before guiding the team.
