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“Throughout the year I learnt who to listen to and who to take advice from, and keeping that circle pretty tight and small. I was learning that whole time, and I’m still learning now as a captain, especially about not needing to do everything all the time.”
Coach Ciraldo never expected Crichton to be demanding the Bulldogs captaincy when he arrived from the Panthers on a four-year deal worth about $3.3 million.
Within weeks, the 24-year-old left Ciraldo with little choice but to put him in charge. Such was his influence throughout his first pre-season at the club, even while managing a quad injury.
As the season proper began, Crichton established himself as not just the best recruit of 2024, but one to be considered, in time, alongside Canterbury’s elite signings of the NRL era: a roll-call of former captains, including Andrew Ryan, Michael Ennis and James Graham.
“I don’t think he needed the captaincy to become a better player,” Ciraldo said. “But I certainly think it helped him drive himself to new standards and new heights.
“It was interesting that he said that he felt like he was worried about everyone else at the start of last season. As a coaching staff we certainly never felt like it was holding him back or feeling that, but it was good to get that insight from him.
“Having learnt from that 12 months ago, he’s in a really good position to take his leadership forward this season.”
Crichton and Canterbury begin again on Saturday against local rivals St George Illawarra.
The 2024 clash between the two storied clubs – when Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan wound up with a season-ending, four-game ban for biting Crichton – was the one subject sidestepped by the Bulldogs skipper.
Privately, he and the Bulldogs were miffed at the unsuccessful judiciary defence and preceding commentary that Crichton had contributed to Flanagan’s bite by wrestling him on the ground.
Crichton holds his tongue on the subject of any added spice in the Kogarah derby. On the Bulldogs’ past and promising future, he’s far more forthcoming.
“It’s something very cool to me when I think about the rich history of the club, and you stop and you think, I’m a part of this,” he said.
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“The pressure that comes with being captain, the responsibility that comes with it, that’s exciting for me.
“There were a lot of lessons that we took out of last year, especially with our young squad that we have here. There are a lot of lessons you learn by being in those big games and nailing those big moments in a game.
“I don’t think we have to do too much too different because we took some massive steps last year. Now we build on that.”
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Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.
“Throughout the year I learnt who to listen to and who to take advice from, and keeping that circle pretty tight and small. I was learning that whole time, and I’m still learning now as a captain, especially about not needing to do everything all the time.”
Coach Ciraldo never expected Crichton to be demanding the Bulldogs captaincy when he arrived from the Panthers on a four-year deal worth about $3.3 million.
Within weeks, the 24-year-old left Ciraldo with little choice but to put him in charge. Such was his influence throughout his first pre-season at the club, even while managing a quad injury.
As the season proper began, Crichton established himself as not just the best recruit of 2024, but one to be considered, in time, alongside Canterbury’s elite signings of the NRL era: a roll-call of former captains, including Andrew Ryan, Michael Ennis and James Graham.
“I don’t think he needed the captaincy to become a better player,” Ciraldo said. “But I certainly think it helped him drive himself to new standards and new heights.
“It was interesting that he said that he felt like he was worried about everyone else at the start of last season. As a coaching staff we certainly never felt like it was holding him back or feeling that, but it was good to get that insight from him.
“Having learnt from that 12 months ago, he’s in a really good position to take his leadership forward this season.”
Crichton and Canterbury begin again on Saturday against local rivals St George Illawarra.
The 2024 clash between the two storied clubs – when Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan wound up with a season-ending, four-game ban for biting Crichton – was the one subject sidestepped by the Bulldogs skipper.
Privately, he and the Bulldogs were miffed at the unsuccessful judiciary defence and preceding commentary that Crichton had contributed to Flanagan’s bite by wrestling him on the ground.
Crichton holds his tongue on the subject of any added spice in the Kogarah derby. On the Bulldogs’ past and promising future, he’s far more forthcoming.
“It’s something very cool to me when I think about the rich history of the club, and you stop and you think, I’m a part of this,” he said.
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“The pressure that comes with being captain, the responsibility that comes with it, that’s exciting for me.
“There were a lot of lessons that we took out of last year, especially with our young squad that we have here. There are a lot of lessons you learn by being in those big games and nailing those big moments in a game.
“I don’t think we have to do too much too different because we took some massive steps last year. Now we build on that.”
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now
Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.
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