The Bulldogs and Dolphins have been chasing him hard, but it looks like Stephen Crichton’s dream signing is a little closer to home: the star centre is eager to stay with the Panthers beyond 2023, even if it means taking a mega pay cut.
Despite his desires, the Panthers have not yet tabled an offer for the 22-year-old Samoan international. The Sporting Base would not be surprised if they don’t ever formally approach him either.
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Buzz Rothfield, reporting for the Daily Telegraph, suggested Penrith had put a stopper on any negotiations until the RLPA and the NRL had hashed out exactly what the league’s next salary cap top would look like and talks haven’t restarted since the NRL unveiled a 25 percent increase to $12,100,000 per club for next year.
Even with the rising salary cap, Crichton is happy to take slash his pay to stay.
“The development is that Crichton, grand final hero, is absolutely desperate to stay at the Panthers,” Rothfield said on Big Sports Breakfast. “He grew up in the area alongside all his teammates there and he played for Samoa alongside his teammates, and he does not want to go anywhere.”
He is also happy to sacrifice a fullback move. If he moved to the Bulldogs or Dolphins ahead of the 2024 NRL season it would likely be ahead of a full-time shift into a team’s number one jumper.
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Crichton may be just 22 but he’s already proven he is one of the game’s biggest big-game stars. He has regularly represented the Blues and Samoa in high-stakes battles and twice won the NRL premiership with the Panthers.
The Sporting Base understands he could command around $800,000 to $900,000 as a fullback if he takes up one of the lucrative offers from the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs or the 17th NRL club, expansion team the Redcliffe Dolphins. Wayne Bennett, coaching the Dolphins, is particularly interested in scoring his signature.
To stay at the Panthers, he may be looking closer to $500,000 a year.
To make matters worse, Penrith has already re-signed Liam Martin, Izack Tago, and Brian To’o, leaving Crichton’s camp wondering if they won’t be getting an offer at all. The star’s manager, Liam Ayoub, contacted powerbrokers in Penrith last week to talk through an offer.
The Bulldogs—who certainly need a fullback—lead the race at the moment, but Crichton’s Penrith allegiances may be the swing-factor.
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