Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo launched a stirring defence of his captain Stephen Crichton after the NRL intervened to hit him with a contrary conduct charge, calling him “one of the most upstanding characters in the game”.
Crichton was put in the spotlight after the match review committee failed to cite him for an incident involving Ryan Papenhuyzen when he ran his hands across the face of the Storm fullback last Thursday night.
It was suggested Crichton had got away with similar unsavoury incidents and the NRL used a 2022 change to the judicial code to cite him for contrary conduct, with the penalty a $1000 fine.
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After his teammates defended their captain against claims Crichton was a “grub”, Ciraldo said every week there were “five, six or seven” such incidents and the skipper was as respected as anyone in the game.
“I think it’s ridiculous. He’s one of the most upstanding characters in the game, so well respected among his teammates and opposition players,” Ciraldo said ahead of Thursday’s clash with Penrith.
“Yes, he goes out and competes hard, but that’s what we love about him and what everyone respects. I don’t think I need to respond too much more than that.
“That incident from the weekend, when you watch all the games of footy, you see five, six seven of those types of incidents. If journalists want to report on them, you might find a few more charges handed out.”
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