Canterbury Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has shared uplifting news about Stephen Crichton, praising him for his leadership qualities and officially announcing him as the team’s captain for the 2025 NRL season. Crichton, a three-time NRL Premiership winner, has been instrumental in energizing the Bulldogs since joining from the Penrith Panthers. Ciraldo highlighted Crichton’s natural ability to uplift team morale and foster unity, key traits that contributed to the decision to hand him the captaincy.
Crichton replaces Reed Mahoney and Matt Burton, who jointly held the role last season. Ciraldo expressed gratitude to Mahoney and Burton for their leadership during a challenging period but emphasized that Crichton’s dynamic presence and leadership by example made him the ideal choice to lead the team moving forward. Ciraldo described Crichton as a “reader of energy” who can identify when the team needs a morale boost and acts effectively to inspire them, even through light-hearted methods like music or humor.
For his part, Crichton is embracing the responsibility with humility, stating his goal to lead through actions on and off the field. Drawing on his experiences with past leaders at Penrith, Crichton expressed his commitment to fostering a culture of teamwork and resilience within the Bulldogs. Reflecting on his new club, he emphasized the Bulldogs’ family-oriented ethos and his excitement to contribute to a team-first mindset.
The Bulldogs are optimistic about the upcoming season under Crichton’s leadership, bolstered by their recent performances and Ciraldo’s strategic guidance. The team aims to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next challenges.