Latest news with #StephenCrichton
The Australian
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
NRL 2025: Stephen Crichton insists Blues won't target Gehamat Shibasaki
Blues centre Stephen Crichton has downplayed the notion that his side will go after Gehamat Shibasaki next week when the Maroons centre makes his State of Origin debut with the series on the line. Shibasaki has earnt his spot on the back of three-straight try doubles for the Broncos, with Queensland coach Billy Slater opting to bring him in after he moved Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback to replace the injured Kalyn Ponga. Slater could have easily brought Reece Walsh in to play fullback but has instead backed Shibasaki to get the job done against arguably the best centre in the world. The pair met earlier this year when Brisbane ended Canterbury's six-match winning streak to start the season, with Shibasaki scoring one of their six first-half tries when Crichton was trapped at marker in defence. The Bulldogs skipper has nothing but respect for a guy whose NRL career was at a crossroads last year, with the Blues to have a significant advantage in experience out wide with Latrell Mitchell up against Roosters rookie Robert Toia. 'Not really,' Crichton replied when asked if NSW would target the Origin debutant. 'I feel like there are two parts to the game – the physical side and the mental side. 'It's mental all the way up until game day for me as I try to get my role right at training before putting it out on the field. 'The physicality comes because it's Origin, it's game three and it's a decider as well. 'He's such a good player. I feel like he's been playing his best footy the past couple of weeks leading into his Origin selection. 'There is going to be a lot of talk around it, but I feel like the Origin arena brings out the best in everyone regardless of whether you haven't played a game because you're always going to turn up and play your best.' Shibasaki has scored more tries this season than he has in the rest of his NRL career combined, with the powerful centre no stranger to the Maroons jersey having worn it several times in the junior ranks. He played three matches for the Queensland under-20 team, while he also lined up alongside Zac Lomax in the centres for the Junior Kangaroos back in 2018. He has been the constant on the left edge for a Broncos team that has made several changes to the backline, but teammate Payne Haas will switch his respect for animosity when they square off next week. 'I'm super proud of him,' the Blues prop said. 'He came in (to the Broncos) on a train and trial (deal) and worked his backside off to get to where he is now. 'I'm really proud of him, but I will hate him next Wednesday.' NewsWire After receiving the club's backing only until the end of 2025, Carlton coach Michael Voss has laid out plans for his battling team to turn things around. NewsWire Police are urgently seeking fresh information as they investigate the alleged murder of a businessman who died during a house party.
News.com.au
02-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘I will hate him next Wednesday': Blues show Origin rookie Gehamat Shibasaki plenty of respect
Blues centre Stephen Crichton has downplayed the notion that his side will go after Gehamat Shibasaki next week when the Maroons centre makes his State of Origin debut with the series on the line. Shibasaki has earnt his spot on the back of three-straight try doubles for the Broncos, with Queensland coach Billy Slater opting to bring him in after he moved Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback to replace the injured Kalyn Ponga. Slater could have easily brought Reece Walsh in to play fullback but has instead backed Shibasaki to get the job done against arguably the best centre in the world. The pair met earlier this year when Brisbane ended Canterbury's six-match winning streak to start the season, with Shibasaki scoring one of their six first-half tries when Crichton was trapped at marker in defence. The Bulldogs skipper has nothing but respect for a guy whose NRL career was at a crossroads last year, with the Blues to have a significant advantage in experience out wide with Latrell Mitchell up against Roosters rookie Robert Toia. 'Not really,' Crichton replied when asked if NSW would target the Origin debutant. 'I feel like there are two parts to the game – the physical side and the mental side. 'It's mental all the way up until game day for me as I try to get my role right at training before putting it out on the field. 'The physicality comes because it's Origin, it's game three and it's a decider as well. 'He's such a good player. I feel like he's been playing his best footy the past couple of weeks leading into his Origin selection. 'There is going to be a lot of talk around it, but I feel like the Origin arena brings out the best in everyone regardless of whether you haven't played a game because you're always going to turn up and play your best.' Shibasaki has scored more tries this season than he has in the rest of his NRL career combined, with the powerful centre no stranger to the Maroons jersey having worn it several times in the junior ranks. He played three matches for the Queensland under-20 team, while he also lined up alongside Zac Lomax in the centres for the Junior Kangaroos back in 2018. He has been the constant on the left edge for a Broncos team that has made several changes to the backline, but teammate Payne Haas will switch his respect for animosity when they square off next week. 'I'm super proud of him,' the Blues prop said. 'He came in (to the Broncos) on a train and trial (deal) and worked his backside off to get to where he is now. 'I'm really proud of him, but I will hate him next Wednesday.'
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fresh calls for NRL rule change after Panthers forced to gift gun players to rivals
Matty Johns has claimed the salary cap needs to hand exemptions to clubs who develop young talent after the Penrith Panthers have struggled to keep their superstars together across the years. The Panthers' win over the table-topping Bulldogs on Thursday night sent a warning to the rest of the competition as Nathan Cleary and his side look to build momentum towards a fifth-straight premiership. The 8-6 win over the Bulldogs had the intensity of a finals game, but it showed the Panthers are still one of the favourites if they can put out a full strength side in 2025. However, it also showed how much talent has left the club due to salary cap pressure across the years. Matt Burton, Stephen Crichton and Viliame Kikau are all former Panthers players and left for bigger contracts in recent years to join the Bulldogs. All three have helped lift the Bulldogs to the top of the table in 2025 and it shows the depth and talent that has come from the Penrith junior system. And it has also prompted questions over whether the NRL needs to hand clubs salary cap relief to keep young players in their system. Speaking after the game, SEN Radio host Andrew Webster claimed it was a shame some of the premiership-winning stars couldn't remain in Penrith. This comes after they developed the likes of Burton, Crichton and Kikau, before watching them walk out the door. "This is why they need to really have a serious look at the salary cap. Penrith have produced all those players. You've got Isiah Katoa at the Dolphins and the Dragons are now looking at Luke Garner," he said on Friday. "That's what the salary cap does, but if there is not going to be a draft and you are not going to get any compensation for producing the talent for the rest of the competition they need to look at how to get some sort of salary cap relief to hold on to some of them." And this prompted Matty Johns to claim there needs to be a fix going forward so feeder clubs benefit from their own juniors. "this is one of the biggest things in the game. You want some of these teams with big catchment areas spending a lot of money on their juniors because they feed the rest of the competition," Johns added. The former Newcastle Knights five-eighth suggested his old team is one of the areas that gets raided and it's hard for the club to hold onto their players. "The issue is something started to change about 20 years ago in the game. Rather than teams spending money on their they started to do is go up to Newcastle to their trial games and pick the eyes out of their best kids." Garner is the latest Panthers player linked to a rival club with salary cap pressures on the Panthers. The versatile Penrith forward has now been linked to the Dragons who are looking to the future after shifting de Jack de Belin on to the Eels, according to NRL reporter Michael Chammas. Although earlier this year, Dragons coach Shane Flanagan did express his side was short of front-rowers and this was a key position he wanted to address. "That's an area they want to improve, but good luck finding a middle...I don't have your answer. Apparently they were looking at Luke Garner as a potential edge-player, but it doesn't solve their middles," Chammas said on Triple M Radio. Garner would add versatility and experience to the Dragons with the forward winning multiple premierships at the Panthers. The 29-year-old has played 114 first-grade games to date - 75 with the Wests Tigers and 39 with Penrith. This year he has filled in for Cleary's side at second-row, lock and in the centres. However, the club have reportedly allowed Garner to negotiate with other clubs with his deal running out at the end of 2026.
News.com.au
18-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Critta capitalises on Blues 1st penalty
State of Origin: Stephen Crichton has scored from the Blues only penalty of State of Origin game two up until the 55th minute.
News.com.au
15-06-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
Crazy scenes as players rushed off field as bizarre 29-min lightning delay halts NRL clash
The Bulldogs have cemented their place at the top of the NRL ladder on a drama filled Sunday afternoon that saw play suspended for almost half an hour in the first half as lightning threatened Accor Stadium. Playing without Origin-bound quartet Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Max King and Kurt Mann, Canterbury were too good for Souths, claiming their 11th win of the season, 24-18. While the action on field was largely unremarkable, it was the severe weather event that was the headline act. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > Play was sensationally stopped in the 32nd minute when the NRL ground manager entered the field of play and ordered referee Adam Gee to bring the players off the field due to lightning in proximity of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct. 'We've got to go in, the ground manager has said, because of the lightning,' Gee could be heard telling players. Off the field security guards rushed to usher fans to areas under cover, while team and match officials, as well as camera operators and photographers were all forced to find safety. Visible lightning and thunder followed before the storm front passed without further issue, play recommencing after a 28-minute hiatus. The last time a NRL match was stopped in similar circumstances was on ANZAC Day in 2015 when the Roosters and Dragons left the field when a massive thunderstorm hammered Allianz Stadium. On that occasion play was suspended for half an hour. Earlier, Toby Sexton got things going for the Bulldogs in the seventh minute, feigning to kick on the last tackle before turning the ball inside to Jacob Kiraz, who in turn drew Jye Gray and shovelled it back to Sexton in support to cross over. Tries soon followed to Marcelo Montoya and Connor Tracey and inside 16 minutes the Dogs were outscoring the clock before rain began teeming down and play slowed ahead of the delay. Once the action restarted, Viliame Kikau crossed the line three times in five minutes for no points – twice held up and once called back for an obstruction, before Alex Johnston scored at the other end, grabbing a fortuitous bounce after Dogs winger Blake Wilson spilt a bomb. Both teams scored tries in the third quarter of the game and when Souths took advantage of the sin binning of Bulldogs' interchange forward Jake Turpin to score via Jack Wighton, they were within eight points with as many minutes remaining and the game was still there to be snatched. Tyrone Munro then touched down in the 78th minute after Isaiah Tass kicked from a scrum 40 metres out to get even closer, but in the end they ran out of time. The victory, following a 32-0 demolition in their annual Good Friday clash, ensured the Bulldogs won both regular season games against the Rabbitohs for the first time since 2011.
