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Stephen Crichton\u2019s reinvention as a five-eighth is continuing to bear fruit for Canterbury as the Bulldogs captain shrugged off another injury scare in a 30-12 win over the Gold Coast.<\/p>\n
Six days on from his field-goal heroics in the Dogs\u2019 defeat of Manly \u2013 and in just his second NRL game in the halves \u2013 Crichton showed the poise of a veteran playmaker by guiding Cameron Ciraldo\u2019s side to a third win on the spin.<\/p>\n
The Samoan international had three assists and kicked five goals on Friday at Cbus Super Stadium, playing on after reeling out of a tackle on Gold Coast fullback Keano Kini late in the first half.<\/p>\n
Crichton, who missed game two of the State of Origin series with a shoulder injury, made it to half-time and then soldiered on to put the Titans to bed in the second half.<\/p>\n
The only injury concern for Ciraldo, as his side claimed a fourth win in five games, was winger Jacob Kiraz, who picked up a suspected rib injury and was replaced by Bronson Xerri.<\/p>\n
Crichton was involved in both of Canterbury\u2019s first-half tries, creating the space for centre Matt Burton to send Jethro Rinakama in on the left for an 15th-minute opener.<\/p>\n
![\"Bulldogs](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4a93c2a9e1856877fce7860e3b681aa2669be410.jpeg\")
Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton leads his team to a third straight win.Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Dogs captain then showed some wicked deception to set up Josh Curran for his first of the night and give Canterbury a 12-0 half-time lead.<\/p>\n
Phillip Sami crossed early into the second half but a try-saving tackle by Enari Tuala kept the Titans at bay.<\/p>\n
After Rinakama notched his second try, off a crisp Bailey Hayward pass, Crichton came to the fore.<\/p>\n
The Dogs No.6 trapped Kini in-goal with a poked kick down the left and on the ensuing set from the dropout Crichton sent popular prop Max King over for a try on his 150th NRL appearance.<\/p>\n
Sami scored two more to seal a hat-trick and cut the Bulldogs\u2019 lead to just 12 with seven minutes to go.<\/p>\n
But Crichton killed the game off by assisting Curran for the tireless edge forward\u2019s second try to put his side in touching distance of the top eight.<\/p>\n
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