Stephen Crichton

Stephen Crichton

Personal information
Full name	Stephen Crichton
Born	(2000-09-22) 22 September 2000 (age 24) Apia, Samoa
Height	193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	99 kg (15 st 8 lb)
Playing information
Position	Centre, Wing, Fullback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2019–23 Penrith Panthers 100 56 74 0 372 2024– Canterbury Bulldogs 21 10 1 0 42 Total 121 66 75 0 414 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2022–24 New South Wales 9 1 5 0 14 2022–23 Samoa 8 4 30 1 77
Source: [1] As of 15 September 2024

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

Crichton previously played for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL, with whom he won the 2021, 2022 and 2023 NRL Grand Finals. Crichton has the distinction of scoring a try in each of Penrith's four consecutive grand final appearances (2020 to 2023).^[a]

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.^[4] He is the younger brother of former Penrith Panthers player Christian Crichton.

Early life

Crichton played his junior rugby league with St Clair Comets.^{[citation needed]} He attended Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown.^[5] He also played Australian rules football in primary school and in grade 7 while at Brothers', however quit to focus on league.^[6]

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.^[7][8]

2020

In round 8 of the 2020 NRL season, Crichton scored two tries as Penrith defeated the Wests Tigers 19–12 at Bankwest Stadium.^[9]

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.^[10] For a successful individual season, Crichton was named Centre of the Year at the 2020 Dally M Awards^[11] 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.^[12]

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.^[13]

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.^[14]

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.^[15]

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.^[16] 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.^[17]

In October Crichton was named in the Samoa squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.^[18]

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.^[19] He finished the tournament as the top point scorer with 73 points.^[20] Crichton played for Samoa in their Rugby League World Cup final loss to Australia.^[21]

In November he was named in the 2021 RLWC Team of the Tournament.^[22]

2023

On 16 January, Crichton's management informed Penrith that he would be seeking other opportunities for 2024.^[23] 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.^[24][25] On 18 February, Crichton played in Penrith's 13–12 upset loss to St Helens RFC in the 2023 World Club Challenge.^[26] In round 8 of the 2023 NRL season, Crichton scored a hat-trick in Penrith's 20–18 loss against South Sydney.^[27] On 22 May, Crichton was selected by New South Wales in the extended squad for game one of the 2023 State of Origin series.^[28]

During 2023 NRL season, Crichton played 24 games for Penrith and emerged as the team's second-leading try-scorer.^[29] With 15 tries for the season, he was one of the competition's highest-scoring centers.

Crichton was instrumental in 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.^[30] The grand final was Crichton's 100th and final match for the Panthers.

2024

On 22 February, Crichton was announced as the captain of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. ^[31] In round 1 of the 2024 NRL season, Crichton scored a try on debut for Canterbury as they were defeated 26–8 against arch-rivals Parramatta.^[32] On 26 May, Crichton was named at centre for New South Wales ahead of the 2024 State of Origin series.^[33] In round 14, Crichton scored two tries for Canterbury in their win over arch-rivals Parramatta.^[34] Crichton played 21 games for Canterbury in the 2024 NRL season scoring ten tries as the club qualified for the finals finishing 6th. Crichton played in their elimination finals loss against Manly.^[35]

Honours

Individual

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

Club

• 2020 Minor Premiership Winners
• 2021 NRL Grand Final Winners
• 2022 Minor Premiership Winners
• 2022 NRL Grand Final Winners
• 2023 Minor Premiership Winners
• 2023 NRL Grand Final Winners

State of Origin

• 2024 State of origin winners

International

• 2021 Rugby League World Cup final

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	Bulldogs	16	8				32
Career totals		116	62	74	77.89%	0	396

Head-to-head records

Opponent	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %
Warriors	7	7	0	0	100
Sea Eagles	6	6	0	0	100
Raiders	5	5	0	0	100
Titans	4	4	0	0	100
Bulldogs	9	7	0	0	1000
Dragons	4	4	0	0	100
Roosters	8	7	0	1	88
Broncos	7	6	0	1	86
Sharks	7	6	0	1	86
Knights	6	5	1	0	83
Cowboys	6	5	0	1	83
Rabbitohs	11	9	0	2	82
Storm	10	7	0	3	70
Tigers	5	3	0	2	60
Eels	10	6	0	4	60

Notes

1. Crichton's feat of scoring a try in four consecutive grand finals is surpassed only by Johnny King's seven tries in six consecutive grand finals for St. George between 1960 and 1965.^[2][3]

References

1. Rugby League Project
2. Pengilly, Adam (25 September 2023). "Panther's bid to equal feat achieved just once in 115 years". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
3. Tedeschi, Nick (1 October 2023). "Nathan Cleary inspires Penrith to stunning NRL grand final triumph over Broncos". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2023. Stephen Crichton, in his final game for Penrith, scored for the fourth successive grand final with 13 minutes to go to set up a finish such a remarkable game deserved.
4. Whittaker, Troy (8 September 2020). "Third division to NRL star: Stephen Crichton's unique rise". NRL. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
5. Nine Former Patrician Brothers Blacktown students in Penrith Panthers round 1 squad 10 March 2022
6. How Crichton rejected AFL and still became a giant by Brad Walter for NRL.com 25 Jun 2024
7. "NRL Round 21 team announcements". NRL.com. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
8. "Penrith rookies hold out Cronulla in NRL". 7 News. 9 August 2019.
9. "Brisbane lose to warriors sharks panthers post wins". ABC News. 4 July 2020.
10. Hytner, Mike (25 October 2020). "Melbourne Storm beat Penrith Panthers as it happened". The Guardian.
11. "Panthers dominate Dally M Team of the Year and Ivan's the coach". www.nrl.com. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
12. Chris Kennedy (26 October 2020). "2020 Origin squads: NSW, Queensland announce several new faces". www.nrl.com. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
13. Gore, Tim (16 April 2021). "Andrew Abdo's fining of the Raiders is inconsistent, incompetent and disgraceful". The Roar. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
14. "One of finest NRL grand finals of all time provides cure to difficult season". www.theguardian.com. 3 October 2021.
15. "May stood down as Panthers trio cop breach notices for post-GF celebrations". www.foxsports.com.au. 19 October 2021.
16. "NRL premiers Penrith defeat Canberra 36–6, Parramatta thump Newcastle 39–2". www.abc.net.au.
17. "We hate Parra as Panthers mock Eels as Koroisau pokes fun at Tigers". www.smh.com.au.
18. Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021
19. "England 26–27 Samoa: Rugby League World Cup semi-final – as it happened". www.theguardian.com.
20. "Stats". www.nrl.com/.
21. "Australia 30–10 Samoa: Rugby League World Cup final – as it happened". www.theguardian.com.
22. Samoan domination as unlikely halfback earns No.7 jersey: WC Team of the Tournament
23. "Crichton to depart Panthers at season's end". Penrith Panthers. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
24. "EXCLUSIVE: Crichton gone to the Dogs on $3.3m as Gus builds Canterbury Panthers". Fox Sports. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
25. "Club Statement: Stephen Crichton". Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
26. "St Helens: World Club Challenge win 'seismic for British rugby league'". www.bbc.co.uk.
27. "South Sydney Rabbitohs launch late fightback to pip Penrith Panthers 20–18 in NRL classic". www.abc.net.au.
28. "Graham ruled out for Blues, trio to debut as Fittler makes 'gamble'". www.nrl.com.
29. "Stephen Crichton Tryscorer Stats". www.legz.com.au.
30. "NRL grand final 2023: Penrith Panthers defeat Brisbane Broncos – as it happened". www.theguardian.com.
31. https://www.bulldogs.com.au/news/2024/02/22/ciraldo-announces-crichton-as-new-club-captain-expresses-gratitude-to-mahoney-and-burton/ ^{[bare URL]}
32. "Dogs' Foxx fear compounds rough night; Eels may have finally solved big issue: What we learned". www.foxsports.com.au.
33. "Blues name six rookies, new captain for Origin opener". www.nrl.com.
34. "Stephen Crichton produces 'special' moment as Bulldogs claim crucial win over Parramatta". www.nine.com.au.
35. "Bulldogs left 'frustrated' by semi final defeat as new standards laid bare". www.nine.com.au.

External links

• Penrith Panthers profile
• Samoa profile