Stephen Crichton

Stephen Crichton (born 22 September 2000) is a Samoan professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL and Samoa at international level. He has represented the NSW Blues in State of Origin.

Stephen Crichton
Personal information
Full nameStephen Crichton
Born (2000-09-22) 22 September 2000
Apia, Samoa
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight99 kg (15 st 8 lb)
Playing information
PositionCentre, Wing, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019–23 Penrith Panthers 100 56 74 0 372
2024– Canterbury Bulldogs 0 0 0 0 0
Total 100 56 74 0 372
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022–23 New South Wales 6 1 5 0 14
2022 Samoa 6 4 28 1 73
Source: [1]
As of 1 October 2023

Crichton was part of the most dominant Rugby League team of all time where he won the 2021, 2022 and 2023 NRL Grand Final with the Penrith Panthers. Crichton has the distinction of the only player in the NRL era to score a try in four consecutive grand finals. He now looks to take the winning formula with him to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in their search of a premiership after a 20 year drought.

Background

Crichton was born in Apia, Samoa. He moved to Auckland, New Zealand at the age of two, before his family eventually settled in Sydney, Australia.[2] He is the younger brother of Penrith Panthers player Christian Crichton.

Early life

Crichton played his junior rugby league with St Clair Comets.

Career

2019
Crichton playing for Penrith in 2019

Crichton made his first-grade debut for Penrith against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in round 21 of the 2019 NRL season which ended in a 26–20 victory for Penrith at Panthers Stadium.[3][4]

2020

In round 8 of the 2020 NRL season, Crichton scored two tries as Penrith defeated the Wests Tigers 19–12 at Bankwest Stadium.[5]

Crichton had a breakout year for Penrith in the 2020 NRL season playing 22 games and scoring 17 tries as Penrith won the minor premiership. Crichton played in the 2020 NRL Grand Final, scoring a try in the second half as Penrith were defeated by Melbourne 26–20.[6] For a successful individual season, Crichton was named Centre of the Year at the 2020 Dally M Awards[7] and rewarded with a spot in the New South Wales State of Origin 27-man squad although he did not play in the three game series.[8]

2021

In round 5 of the 2021 NRL season, Crichton was fined $1350 by the NRL for pulling benched Canberra Raiders player Joseph Tapine into a celebratory throng and goading him.[9]

Critchton played a total of 26 games for Penrith in the 2021 NRL season including the club's 2021 NRL Grand Final victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Crichton scored what would be the match winning try off an intercepted Cody Walker pass as Penrith held on to win 14–12.[10]

On 19 October, Crichton was handed a proposed $4000 fine by the NRL and a breach notice which alleges that he acted contrary to the best interests of the game after he was photographed on social media acting in a disrespectful manner toward the Provan-Summons Trophy. Although Crichton nor any of the Penrith players had broken the trophy, the NRL alleged Crichton and teammate Nathan Cleary showed disrespect towards the individuals depicted in the iconic moment on the trophy.[11]

2022
Crichton with Samoa in 2022

In round 7 of the 2022 NRL season, Crichton scored a hat-trick in Penrith's 36-6 victory over Canberra.[12] Crichton played a total of 23 games for Penrith throughout the year including the clubs 2022 NRL Grand Final victory over Parramatta. Crichton scored the opening try in the final which finished 28-12 in Penrith's favour.[13]

In October Crichton was named in the Samoa squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[14]

In the 2021 Rugby League World Cup semi-final, Crichton scored two tries and kicked the winning drop goal for Samoa as they defeated England 27-26 in golden point extra-time at the Emirates Stadium.[15] He finished the tournament as the top point scorer with 73 points.[16] Crichton played for Samoa in their Rugby League World Cup final loss to Australia.[17]

In November he was named in the 2021 RLWC Team of the Tournament.[18]

2023

On 16 January, Crichton's management informed Penrith that he would be seeking other opportunities for 2024.[19] On 19 January, Fox League reported that Crichton signed with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs for four years starting in 2024, which was confirmed by the club on January 22.[20][21] On 18 February, Crichton played in Penrith's 13-12 upset loss to St Helens RFC in the 2023 World Club Challenge.[22] In round 8 of the 2023 NRL season, Crichton scored a hat-trick in Penrith's 20-18 loss against South Sydney.[23] On 22 May, Crichton was selected by New South Wales in the extended squad for game one of the 2023 State of Origin series.[24]

Crichton played 24 games for Penrith in the 2023 NRL season including the club's 26-24 victory over Brisbane in the 2023 NRL Grand Final as Penrith won their third straight premiership, successfully overturning a 24-8 deficit in the final 20 minutes. Crichton kicked the opening conversion of the grand final, in addition to scoring the second try of Penrith's comeback, breaking through three tacklers to emphatically slam the ball over the try line. In the final minutes of the match, Crichton managed two clutch kicks that both found out-of-position Broncos defenders and forced repeat sets. The second would prove decisive, capitalised upon by Nathan Cleary to score the match-winning try.[25] The grand final was Crichton's 100th and final match for the Panthers.

Honours

Individual

  • Dally M Centre of The Year: 2020
  • Dally M Centre of The Year: 2023

Club

International

Statistics

Club
† Denotes seasons in which Crichton won an NRL Premiership
Season Team Matches T G GK % F/G Pts
2019 Penrith 4 - - - 0 -
2020 22 17 7 70.00% 0 82
2021† 27 11 14 66.67% 0 72
2022† 23 13 32 82.05% 0 116
2023† 24 15 21 84.00% 0 102
2024 Canterbury Bulldogs
Career totals 100 56 74 77.89% 0 372

Head-to-head records
OpponentPlayedWonDrawnLostWin %
Warriors7700100
Sea Eagles6600100
Raiders5500100
Titans4400100
Bulldogs4400100
Dragons4400100
Roosters870188
Broncos760186
Sharks760186
Knights651083
Cowboys650183
Rabbitohs1190282
Storm1070370
Tigers530260
Eels1060460

References
  1. Rugby League Project
  2. Whittaker, Troy (8 September 2020). "Third division to NRL star: Stephen Crichton's unique rise". NRL. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  3. "NRL Round 21 team announcements". NRL.com. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  4. "Penrith rookies hold out Cronulla in NRL". 7 News. 9 August 2019.
  5. "Brisbane lose to warriors sharks panthers post wins". ABC News. 4 July 2020.
  6. Hytner, Mike (25 October 2020). "Melbourne Storm beat Penrith Panthers as it happened". The Guardian.
  7. "Panthers dominate Dally M Team of the Year and Ivan's the coach". www.nrl.com. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  8. Chris Kennedy (26 October 2020). "2020 Origin squads: NSW, Queensland announce several new faces". www.nrl.com. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  9. Gore, Tim (16 April 2021). "Andrew Abdo's fining of the Raiders is inconsistent, incompetent and disgraceful". The Roar. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  10. "One of finest NRL grand finals of all time provides cure to difficult season". www.theguardian.com. 3 October 2021.
  11. "May stood down as Panthers trio cop breach notices for post-GF celebrations". www.foxsports.com.au. 19 October 2021.
  12. "NRL premiers Penrith defeat Canberra 36-6, Parramatta thump Newcastle 39-2". www.abc.net.au.
  13. "We hate Parra as Panthers mock Eels as Koroisau pokes fun at Tigers". www.smh.com.au.
  14. Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
  15. "England 26-27 Samoa: Rugby League World Cup semi-final – as it happened". www.theguardian.com.
  16. "Stats". www.nrl.com/.
  17. "Australia 30-10 Samoa: Rugby League World Cup final – as it happened". www.theguardian.com.
  18. Samoan domination as unlikely halfback earns No.7 jersey: WC Team of the Tournament
  19. "Crichton to depart Panthers at season's end". Penrith Panthers. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  20. "EXCLUSIVE: Crichton gone to the Dogs on $3.3m as Gus builds Canterbury Panthers". Fox Sports. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  21. "Club Statement: Stephen Crichton". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  22. "St Helens: World Club Challenge win 'seismic for British rugby league'". www.bbc.co.uk.
  23. "South Sydney Rabbitohs launch late fightback to pip Penrith Panthers 20-18 in NRL classic". www.abc.net.au.
  24. "Graham ruled out for Blues, trio to debut as Fittler makes 'gamble'". www.nrl.com.
  25. "NRL grand final 2023: Penrith Panthers defeat Brisbane Broncos – as it happened". www.theguardian.com.
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