Stephen Crichton has insisted neither cash nor the possibility to play fullback factored into his determination to go away Penrith on the finish of this season.
Chatting with The Day by day Telegraph, Crichton opened up on his impending Panthers exit in his first interview because it was introduced he could be making the transfer to Belmore.
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Calling it a “troublesome determination”, Crichton advised The Telegraph that he will get “emotional” any time he thinks about this being his remaining 12 months on the foot of the mountains.
“I’ve been a Penrith junior and I grew up coming by way of the ranks with the boys — a few them are my greatest mates,” he mentioned.
“It was the toughest determination I’ve ever made with my profession. It was undoubtedly laborious simply understanding that my time at Penrith can be coming to an finish.
“I gained’t take as a right the occasions I get to place this stunning jersey on.”
Crichton signed a four-year cope with the Bulldogs reported to be value over $3.3 million, becoming a member of former Panthers teammates Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau within the blue and white.
The 22-year-old has beforehand spoken of his ambitions to play fullback at Penrith, though Crichton maintained that didn’t affect his determination to go away for the Bulldogs.
“I simply need to make it clear it was nothing to do with cash, it was nothing to do with place,” Crichton mentioned.
“I sort of by no means wished to go away Penrith. My solely possibility I wished was to remain it doesn’t matter what occurred. I bought again from my time on the World Cup and was in search of a solution.
“I needed to go to Samoa and wished to get it performed, however simply couldn’t get a solution.
“So as soon as I bought my head round that I couldn’t stick with Penrith, I spoke to a couple individuals I belief, then I decided to maneuver on.
“The chance on the Bulldogs got here up and simply wanting on the membership, that’s the place my determination went.”
Crichton added that whereas his agent had curiosity from different NRL golf equipment, he mentioned if he was not going to remain put, he would favor to play beneath Cameron Ciraldo, who he labored with intently throughout his time on the Panthers.
“I had advised him if I wasn’t staying that I wished to go along with Ciro,” Crichton mentioned.
“I checked out them and noticed they have been going the precise approach as effectively. That sort of persuaded me. Having Cam Ciraldo there, having labored with him within the first 5 years of my profession, he can get one of the best out of me on the sphere and off the sphere as effectively.”
However Crichton additionally harassed to any involved Panthers followers that his focus stays on going out on a excessive and leaving the membership with a 3rd premiership ring.
“I’ve extra essential issues to fret about this 12 months — that’s the Panthers and profitable one other premiership for the membership,” he mentioned.
“I don’t need to fear in regards to the future, I need to keep current, do my job and play my hardest for Penrith proper now.”
Initially revealed as ‘Nothing to do with cash’: Stephen Crichton’s actual motive for ‘troublesome’ Panthers exit
