Stephen Crichton’s State of Origin Debut and the Road Ahead
Stephen Crichton is set to make a whirlwind debut in the State of Origin series, but his journey to the field may not be without challenges. The Canterbury Bulldogs captain has been dealing with a shoulder injury since the team’s Good Friday loss to South Sydney, and the issue has flared up in recent days. Despite this, Crichton’s absence from training on Tuesday was not related to his shoulder, as the Bulldogs confirmed it was simply an extra day off due to the long turnaround into round 14.
Crichton’s teammates will have a break during the round-15 bye, but if he is named in the NSW team for Origin II, he will miss out on that time. However, the Blues coach Laurie Daley has made it clear that Crichton’s inclusion is not guaranteed. On Monday, Daley stated that he would not take Crichton into camp if he was not fully fit.
This uncertainty could open the door for Jacob Kiraz, who has been performing well in two games since returning from a knee injury. Kiraz came close to making his Origin debut last year under Daley, and his potential inclusion could also allow Tolu Koula to return to his preferred centre position at the MCG.
Despite the possibility of being overlooked, Kiraz remains confident in Crichton’s ability to recover in time for the match. “I’m sure Critta will be sweet. Critta is tough, he’s been playing with injury, like lots of boys in the team,” Kiraz said. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s tough, he’s done it before.”
Kiraz, a powerful yardage runner who can play anywhere in the back five, was in contention for game one last year but was sidelined with a calf injury the weekend of the team announcement. He was then on standby for game two as Brian To’o managed a hamstring concern, but ultimately wasn’t required and remained an unused 18th player for the decider.
“To be fair, when you’re there, I was itching to get out there. If the time comes, whenever it is, I’ll take it with both hands,” Kiraz said.
For now, Kiraz’s focus remains on the Bulldogs, who are currently in 14th place and face a challenging match against understrength Parramatta next Monday. A loss could see them fall as many as eight competition points behind the top eight.
“I was very grateful to be part of the (Origin) squad last year. Whatever happens, happens, I just want to win for the Bulldogs,” Kiraz said. “We need to get wins now and I’m sure that’ll happen. That’s where my focus is.”
