Panthers celebrity Stephen Crichton dropped a bombshell on the NRL world by saying he could be leaving the Penrith powerhouse on the finish of 2023.
Reports circled he needed to stay on the foot of the mountain, nonetheless the 22-year-old will now subject affords from rivals which might be price as much as $900,000 per season.
According to a membership assertion, the Panthers made a suggestion to re-sign the gun centre in May final yr, however have been knocked again earlier than uncertainty surrounding the wage cap delayed discussions.
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Crichton is about to draw ‘fullback money’ and can possible be recruited by golf equipment to put on the No. 1 jersey, being caught behind Dylan Edwards in Penrith.
While Crichton has attracted curiosity from quite a lot of rivals, together with the Bulldogs, right here is who might be able to make an enormous play for the twin premiership winner for the 2024 season.
BULLDOGS
Ever since Cameron Ciraldo was introduced as Bulldogs head coach in August 2022, studies prompt he was eager to deliver Crichton with him to Belmore.
The Canterbury-Bankstown membership granted Matt Dufty an early launch in July to depart for the Super League, with Jake Averillo taking up on the again.
Averillo was spectacular in his stint within the No. 1 jersey, however Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould absolutely wouldn’t go up a possibility to signal a participant of Crichton’s calibre.
Crichton has already deputised for Dylan Edwards. But if he have been on the Bulldogs alongside ex-Panthers Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau, it wouldn’t take lengthy for Crichton to settle in on the again.
With Crichton already having a powerful relationship with Ciraldo, in accordance with the SMH, the Bulldogs can be hoping that pull can safe the deal.
The younger star, who already has a wealth of NRL and consultant expertise, might type a powerful backbone from 2024 and past alongside Burton, Reed Mahoney and Kyle Flanagan.
TIGERS
Tim Sheens, alongside assistants Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah, have torn aside the Tigers squad and recruited big-name gamers alongside the best way.
The merger membership have added quite a lot of elite forwards, together with Apisai Koroisau and Isaiah Papali’I, however are but to bolster their fullback shares.
Daine Laurie has been spectacular for the Tigers and has performed 38 video games throughout two seasons after leaving the Panthers following the 2020 season.
However, the 23-year-old stays off-contract and, because it stands, doesn’t have a membership for the 2024 season.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the Tigers have been insistent on solely providing the younger fullback a one-year extension, whereas his administration have been searching for a two-year deal.
That opens the door for the Tigers to make a play for Crichton and bolster what’s already an improved backbone of Koroisau, Luke Brooks and Adam Doueihi subsequent season.
The Tigers additionally recruited Charlie Staines in a swap deal in October, who will even be hoping to put on the No. 1 jersey beneath Sheens.
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DOLPHINS
According to The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio, supercoach Wayne Bennett had Crichton in his sights as early as May.
The NRL’s latest franchise has up to now did not land a marquee celebrity, lacking out on a bunch of names together with Cameron Munster and Harry Grant.
But it has a warfare chest on the prepared.
The Dolphins had a clear wage cap to work with after they have been introduced because the seventeenth franchise in October 2021 and nonetheless have seven remaining spots of their high 30 for 2024 because it stands.
Crichton might be the right man to put on the No. 1 jersey beneath Bennett and change into one of many Dolphins’ most essential gamers.
At solely 22, Crichton is a person the brand new franchise might construct round for years. He would deliver extra premiership-winning and consultant expertise to the skin backs.
Bennett might throw the kitchen sink at Crichton to safe his signature. After all, he would virtually actually have the ability to supply greater than rivals additionally hoping to signal him.
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KNIGHTS
The Knights have an enormous fullback headache on their fingers, having no apparent option to put on the No. 1 jersey come Round 1.
Kalyn Ponga is about to make the transfer into the halves, which means the Hunter membership are desperately trying to find a person to take over on the again for this season.
Adam O’Brien’s aspect are reportedly set to land Sharks flyer Lachie Miller, in accordance with The Daily Telegraph’s Buzz Rothfield, however the deal is but to be confirmed.
Miller seems to be O’Brien’s first selection for the 2023 season. However, he might look to Crichton’s providers for 2024 and past.
Ponga, 24, and Crichton, 22, would forge a powerful partnership within the Knights backbone for years and, doubtlessly, break the membership’s 21 yr premiership drought.
DRAGONS
The Dragons used a number of fullbacks in 2022, together with younger gun Tyrell Sloan, utility Moses Mbye and Cody Ramsey.
Ramsey has been battling a severe sickness this low season, which might open the door for Sloan to make the fullback jersey his personal in 2023.
However, head coach Anthony Griffin hasn’t hesitated to axe the younger gun previously and if he fails to ship on the Red V this season, Dragons powerbrokers might look elsewhere.
Crichton might be in Griffin’s scopes to offer the Dragons with a second attacking outlet in 2024, which might take the stress off Ben Hunt.
Griffin, who has additionally failed to guide his staff to the finals in his two years in cost, might be searching for an enormous recruit to spark his aspect’s resurgence.
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RAIDERS
While Raiders younger gun Xavier Savage seems to be the membership’s long-term fullback, Ricky Stuart could also be searching for a confirmed winner to put on the No. 1 jersey.
After making the second week of finals in 2022, the staff from the nation’s capital can be determined to make a deeper finals run.
If anybody is aware of what it takes to win premierships, it’s Crichton, taking house the trophy in 2021 and 2022 after additionally that includes within the 2020 grand remaining.
While a Raiders play for Crichton could be a longshot, Stuart is reportedly concerned with David Fifita’s providers. Could he add the Panthers gun to his wishlist?
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
