Justin Horo Claims Stephen Crichton Was ‘Dropped’ from State of Origin 2
Former NRL player Justin Horo has made a surprising claim that NSW star Stephen Crichton was actually ‘dropped’ from the Blues squad for State of Origin 2, despite being named to play for the Bulldogs this weekend. The controversy has sparked widespread debate among fans and pundits alike.
Crichton was initially included in the Blues’ lineup for the second match of the series but withdrew just hours later. The Bulldogs captain has been dealing with a shoulder injury for weeks, which reportedly worsened during a recent game against Parramatta. He has only been training once a week with the Bulldogs, and NSW coach Laurie Daley stated that Crichton wouldn’t have been able to participate in any contact sessions during the camp.
However, the situation became even more confusing when Crichton was named for the Bulldogs’ clash with Manly on Saturday night. Many questioned why he wasn’t playing in the Origin match on Wednesday but was available for the club game. Speaking on SEN radio, Horo suggested that Crichton wasn’t simply withdrawing but was instead dropped from the Origin squad.
Horo pointed out that Daley had shown flexibility with other players, such as Mitch Moses, who was included in the camp despite not being able to train extensively. However, Crichton was treated differently, according to Horo.
When asked if he was surprised by Crichton’s inclusion in the Bulldogs’ team, Horo said: “No. I don’t think it got enough media attention [that he was actually dropped]. The reasoning behind Mitch Moses and Stephen Crichton from Laurie Daley on the first day (of camp) did not align.”
He continued: “He said ‘Critta’ wouldn’t be able to do any contact sessions so he’s unavailable. But when he was asked about Mitch Moses three minutes later he said ‘we’re just going to monitor him and get him through’.”
Horo also highlighted the contrast between Crichton and Moses. Since Game 1 of Origin, Crichton has played every game for the Bulldogs, while Moses suffered an injury before Origin 1 and has missed every game for Parramatta since then. This, according to Horo, suggests that Crichton may have been quietly dropped from the Origin squad.
Mark Nawaqanitawase Gets Debut Instead of Crichton
Crichton has struggled this season, battling an AC joint issue since early in the year. Although he set up a try for Ethan Strange in State of Origin 1, he was otherwise quiet. Notably, he wasn’t recalled into the NSW camp when Casey McLean suffered a quad injury and was ruled out.
McLean was originally selected to play left centre in place of Crichton, but now Tolu Koula will shift to centre, and Mark Nawaqanitawase will make his debut on the wing.
This development has added another layer of intrigue to the ongoing discussions around Crichton’s selection and performance. Whether or not he was truly dropped from the Origin squad, the situation has certainly raised questions about the decision-making process within the NSW coaching staff.
