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 \u201cone of the most upstanding characters in the game\u201d.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer ><\/a><\/p>\n After his teammates defended their captain against claims Crichton was a \u201cgrub\u201d, Ciraldo said every week there were \u201cfive, six or seven\u201d such incidents and the skipper was as respected as anyone in the game. <\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s ridiculous. He\u2019s one of the most upstanding characters in the game, so well respected among his teammates and opposition players,\u201d Ciraldo said ahead of Thursday\u2019s clash with Penrith.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, he goes out and competes hard, but that\u2019s what we love about him and what everyone respects. I don\u2019t think I need to respond too much more than that. <\/p>\n \u201cThat 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.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n COACHING CONTENDERS: Forgotten men, rising stars chasing NRL jobs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018COOKED\u2019: Claims O\u2019Brien \u2018lost dressing room\u2019 as likely replacement revealed<\/a><\/p>\n