Stephen Crichton has kept Canterbury’s season alive, nailing the match-winning field goal in extra time to upset Manly on Saturday night.
In another big NRL upset on Saturday night, hours after Zane Harrison kicked the Titans to a shock win over Penrith, the high-flying Sea Eagles were on the receiving-end of a dramatic 13-12 loss to the struggling Bulldogs.
Stephen Crichton celebrates after kicking a field goal. Getty Images
With their season hanging by a thread, the hots produced a trademark gritty and at times ugly display, but it paid off with a much-needed win at Accor Stadium.
Lachlan Galvin was at his threatening best in the red zone and his show-and-go try with 20 minutes to go put the hosts clear for the first time.
Lehi Hopoate levelled the scores but Jamal Fogarty’s two missed conversions – both hitting the upright – proved costly, before he missed a field goal attempt.
Crichton then had two opportunities to kick the match winner, but had a brain fade with the first and grubbered it through with tackles remaining in the set, before shanking his second attempt wide of the posts.
With one minute left on the clock, Bulldogs winger Jethro Rinakama dropped it in a tackle coming out of his own end, gifting Manly one opportunity before full time – but once again, the visitors failed to capitalise and seal the result.
It was then over to Crichton again in extra time and he made no mistake, nailing it from 30 metres out to send the Dogs fans into raptures.
“It was a bit scrappy, we’re probably still not at our best, but moving in the right direction and it was good to get the two points,” he told Fox League post-game.
“We always practice it at captain’s run and training, just in case we do need it … it was pretty crap the first one, but it was good to get the second one.”
Perhaps the most interesting part of the Bulldogs’ win was skipper Crichton taking on more of a playmaking role in attack, pushing Matt Burton to left centre.
“We had the bye last week and we just tried a few different things,” Crichton said.
“We tried it today, but there’s still a lot of growth in us. It’s totally different to centre, there’s a lot more tackling bigger boys … shoulders are a bit sore.
“Changing positions, you learn what other boys are going through. There’s still room for improvement, but getting the two points was most important.”
Crichton looked right at home in the five-eighth role, scoring a try and getting his hands on the ball far more than he normally would.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo was quizzed about the backline shake-up during his press conference, which also saw Bronson Xerri dropped to the bench.
“It’s always been an option,” Ciraldo said.
Stephen Crichton’s switch to five-eighth paid off. Getty Images
“At times when we’ve been short on halves over the past two pre-seasons, Critta has jumped in there and shown a lot of potential in that position.
“It’s something we’ve always had in the back of our minds that it might happen one day and we’ve seen glimpses of it through the past couple of years.
“We had the bye last week and had a really good opportunity to sit back, chat about how the first half of the season has gone and how individuals have gone.
“The change was more around helping Burto find his best and most consistent form … I thought Burto was brilliant tonight.
“Bronson’s good, he understands. His energy all week and all day on the bench was outstanding. He clearly put the team first, as disappointed as he would have been … we love Bronson and he’s on a journey to find his best form.
“Burto moving to left centre was part of it, but Enari [Tuala] has been our best player all year hands down … that’s footy sometimes.”
On the other side, Tom Trbojevic returned from a hamstring injury but it didn’t go to plan for the Sea Eagles, who now slip outside the top-four on the ladder.
Tom Trbojevic in action against the Bulldogs. Getty Images
“It wasn’t too enjoyable that one,” coach Kieran Foran said post-game.
“I was over the moon with the effort and commitment … but I just thought we didn’t execute at our best tonight. The accumulation of poor error after poor error kept them in the game long enough and eventually, that hurts you.
“It comes back and bites you and that’s what happened to us tonight.”
Trbojevic, who co-captained the side with his brother Jake, conceded the lack of execution in the dying stages haunted the Sea Eagles.
“We’ve got plans around it and we just managed it very poorly … we need to reflect on that and be better,” the fullback said.
The result for Manly was compounded by the loss of tough middle forward Kobe Hetherington to concussion in the first half after a heavy collision, before hooker Brandon Wakeham limped off in the second half with a calf injury.
Haumole Olakau’atu was also hampered by a shoulder issue, but managed to tough it out and remain on the field as he pushes for a NSW Blues recall.
The win pushes the Bulldogs into 11th spot on the table, two wins outside the top-eight with games still to play on Sunday.