‘Time to return the favour’: Out of form Crichton says he owes the Blues

For the first time since making his State of Origin debut, Stephen Crichton wasn’t 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 captain’s form has been off the mark since returning.

“It hasn’t been where I probably want it to be,” Crichton conceded.

However, the bigger the stage, the better Crichton plays. Whether it’s 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, “Critter” has a history of stepping up when it matters.

Which is why NSW coach Laurie Daley declared he could “trust” Crichton and he was “always going to be in the team.”

However, this series marks unfamiliar territory for the star centre given Canterbury’s 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.

“It means a lot,” Crichton, who hasn’t missed an Origin since making his debut in 2022, said.

“You never know when it’s going to be your last time that you get to strap up for the jersey.

“To still get the opportunity, even though I probably haven’t been at my best, just shows that I can be there and that I can do my job too.

“It’s 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.”

Asked if he was concerned he could be overlooked for Origin I, Crichton said: “Oh yeah, but I haven’t really been worrying about Origin from the start [of the year] and these last couple of games.

“We’ve been training really hard at the Dogs and trying to get results there, still searching for that too.

“So I haven’t really been worrying about it. I feel like results will take care of itself and I’ve always been a massive believer in that as well.”

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.

“It’s probably been a bit of a struggle, but you learn the most about yourself through the struggling times,” he said.

“Not just for myself, but the club in general and our boys as well. I’m sure that our boys will come out better players and myself as well come out stronger and bigger and better.”

Asked what he had learned, the 25-year-old said: “Just sticking to the process. Sticking to what I know and not listening to the outside noise is the biggest thing because it’s the same people that will kick you down and the same people that come will pat you on the back when you’re doing really well as well.

“So always keeping my circle small is the biggest thing and probably one thing that I try and teach the boys as well.”

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.

“One 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 I’m worried about,” he said. “Very excited.”