For the first time since making his State of Origin debut, Stephen Crichton wasnโt an automatic Blues selection.
A grade-five AC shoulder joint injury, the most severe of its kind, suffered against the Rabbitohs in round five sidelined Crichton for two games. By his own admission, the Canterbury captainโs form has been off the mark since returning.
โIt hasnโt been where I probably want it to be,โ Crichton conceded.
However, the bigger the stage, the better Crichton plays. Whether itโs scoring four tries in as many grand final appearances – including the match-winning intercept in the 2021 decider – or heroics at Test and Origin level, โCritterโ has a history of stepping up when it matters.
Which is why NSW coach Laurie Daley declared he could โtrustโ Crichton and he was โalways going to be in the team.โ
However, this series marks unfamiliar territory for the star centre given Canterburyโs indifferent form and his own, the latter which has been hampered by the shoulder injury that still requires a needle before every game.
With centre options Latrell Mitchell, Bradman Best and Campbell Graham unavailable due to injury, Daley decided to stick with Crichton despite the first mini-form dip of his career.
โIt means a lot,โ Crichton, who hasnโt missed an Origin since making his debut in 2022, said.
โYou never know when itโs going to be your last time that you get to strap up for the jersey.
โTo still get the opportunity, even though I probably havenโt been at my best, just shows that I can be there and that I can do my job too.
โItโs my job now to return the favour and train really hard this week and put in a performance and show them why I did get picked.โ
Asked if he was concerned he could be overlooked for Origin I, Crichton said: โOh yeah, but I havenโt really been worrying about Origin from the start [of the year] and these last couple of games.
โWeโve been training really hard at the Dogs and trying to get results there, still searching for that too.
โSo I havenโt really been worrying about it. I feel like results will take care of itself and Iโve always been a massive believer in that as well.โ
Crichton said he will emerge a better player and person for coming through a trying period with the Bulldogs, who are on a five-game losing streak.
โItโs probably been a bit of a struggle, but you learn the most about yourself through the struggling times,โ he said.
โNot just for myself, but the club in general and our boys as well. Iโm sure that our boys will come out better players and myself as well come out stronger and bigger and better.โ
Asked what he had learned, the 25-year-old said: โJust sticking to the process. Sticking to what I know and not listening to the outside noise is the biggest thing because itโs the same people that will kick you down and the same people that come will pat you on the back when youโre doing really well as well.
โSo always keeping my circle small is the biggest thing and probably one thing that I try and teach the boys as well.โ
Last week marked the first time Crichton was able to train with his Bulldogs teammates since the injury. It means he will be able to participate in every Blues session without being needled.
โOne less thing I have to worry about now coming into training and not having to worry or have something in the back of my head that Iโm worried about,โ he said. โVery excited.โ
