Stephen Crichton, the high-profile acquisition for Canterbury, will begin the season in the centres rather than at fullback and lead one of the most potent left-wing attacks in the NRL.
In addition to Keaon Koloamatangi, Cody Walker, Jack Wighton, Latrell Mitchell, and Alex Johnston on South Sydney’s left side, Canterbury will field Viliame Kikau, Matt Burton, Crichton, and Josh Addo-Carr.
Where three-time premiership winner Crichton, who signed a contract for over $800,000 a season, would start the year was one of the hot themes at Belmore throughout the summer.
However, Blake Taaffe will have the first opportunity to wear the No. 1 shirt because Crichton’s quad injury is hindering him and restricting the amount of work he has been able to perform in training at fullback. Despite having a poor performance in Friday’s trial match against Cronulla, Taaffe has hardly missed a beat in training.
Taaffe’s early-round results will determine when Crichton moves to fullback.
While some supporters may wonder why a player signed a four-year contract worth more than $3.3 million is squandered in the centers, Crichton is one of the few centers in the game who can impact a game with both his attack and defense.
Crichton, who was named Bulldogs captain the same week and received a hero’s welcome in front of 6,000 spectators at Belmore during Friday’s 20-minute trial appearance, expressed his excitement at getting back in touch with NSW Origin teammates Addo-Carr and former Panthers Burton and Kikau.
In an attempt to bring out the best in Burton, who he claimed had “been a bit quiet the past few seasons,” he even backed himself.
