The Canterbury Bulldogs didn’t sign Stephen Crichton with the intention of deploying him as a centre, despite his proven talent in that position during his time with the Penrith Panthers. Cameron Ciraldo and the Bulldogs chose him, even naming him club captain in his debut season at Belmore, primarily because they envisioned him as a fullback.
However, despite this initial plan, four weeks into the season, Crichton hasn’t had the opportunity to play in his preferred role. The Bulldogs have struggled, winning only one game against the Gold Coast Titans and losing the rest against the Parramatta Eels, Cronulla Sharks, and South Sydney Rabbitohs. While their defensive efforts improved against the Rabbitohs, their attack still lacks potency.
Despite their struggles, the Bulldogs have not yet utilized Crichton at fullback, where they believe he could be most effective. In the four games played, Crichton has had minimal involvement in the team’s offensive efforts, scoring just one try, assisting in one more, and touching the ball only 68 times, averaging 17 per game. His limited impact is evident in his statistics, with only seven tackle breaks, two offloads, and one game with over 150 running meters.
The Bulldogs’ one-win, three-loss record is cause for concern, especially considering the significant changes made to the squad under Ciraldo and director of football Phil Gould. With expectations internally to show improvement, the Bulldogs must consider drastic changes if they can’t produce results soon.
While Blake Taaffe has performed adequately at fullback, the Bulldogs should prioritize building their team around Crichton, their most potent attacking weapon. This might mean reshuffling positions, potentially moving Taaffe to the halves to accommodate Crichton at fullback. Additionally, Drew Hutchison’s lack of impact in the halves could warrant consideration for replacement, possibly by Toby Sexton.
However, Ciraldo might be hesitant to make multiple changes to the spine simultaneously, especially with injuries to key players like Josh Addo-Carr and Jacob Preston. Nevertheless, if the Bulldogs don’t see improvements in their attacking play, changes must be made sooner rather than later.
Replacing Crichton at centre with Bronson Xerri could provide the team with the power and strength needed to bolster their attack. Xerri’s impressive performances during the preseason make him a viable option to complement Crichton’s potential move to fullback.
In summary, the Bulldogs need to act swiftly to avoid a repeat of previous seasons’ struggles. Embracing changes, particularly involving Crichton’s positional switch, could be the catalyst for a turnaround in their fortunes for the 2024 season.