News Stephen Crichton set to re-sign with Panthers on $1.5m deal

2144superman

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PANTHERS
Stephen Crichton set to re-sign with Panthers on $1.5m deal

He attracted interest from six rival clubs, but the Penrith Panthers have moved quickly to re-sign their brightest young talent on a monster deal worth $1.5 million.

He’s been described by Penrith’s greatest player as an “exceptional and unique talent”, and now boom centre Stephen Crichton is poised to sign a rich long-term deal keeping him at the Panthers for the next four years.

Crichton is close to signing a $1.5 million, three-year extension which will have him remain a Panther until the end of 2024.

The looming deal with Crichton, who attracted interest from at least six NRL clubs, comes amid speculation the centre would be a target of the cashed-up Canterbury Bulldogs.

Crichton, 19, is already under contract until the end of next season with the club hoping a new deal could be secured and announced inside the next month.

“Stephen is an exceptional talent,” said Penrith’s finest player and current club deputy chairman Greg Alexander.
“He is a unique talent. He is a great athlete but he also has a good football brain. He is quick, got terrific hands and can jump.
“Stephen is an all-round footy player. We hope (the deal) can be done soon.”

Immortal Andrew Johns also had high praise for Crichton.
“What an athlete this young man is — a special talent,” Johns said on Nine on Sunday.

Crichton’s re-signing was discussed at a Panthers’ recruitment and retention meeting last week.

Crichton has scored a try in each of his past six games, including two-try efforts in two of those matches.

He has scored 10 tries in 11 games this season and posted 10 line breaks. In the past three games, Crichton has run for 408 metres. Crichton has formed a lethal edge combination with Penrith wrecking ball Viliame Kikau.


Crichton has been credited with leading Penrith’s next wave of youngsters.

The Samoan-born Crichton, who played junior rugby league with the St Clair Comets, is free to field offers from November 1 this year but Penrith want him off the market by then.

He recently said contract negotiations would “take care of themselves.”
There had been suggestions Canterbury may pounce given Crichton’s brother, Christian, is a Bulldogs winger. Crichton debuted in round 21 last year against Cronulla.

Panthers teammate, Matt Burton, is another free to field offers from November 1 this year. Burton, who played off the bench against Gold Coast on Sunday, has also been linked to the Bulldogs.

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary selected four halves against Gold Coast — Burton, Tyrone May, Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai.

Rival clubs have questioned whether the club can afford to retain all four in their salary cap although Penrith is confident they can retain Burton.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...l/news-story/3ad49d1d3ad263294d543a5560230776
 

CrittaMagic69

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That's a good deal for both parties, wonder if they will keep him at centre or look to move him back to fullback over time?
 

Bulldogs09

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1.5 for 4 years wtf? That’s 375k a year? Fuck me he’s worth more than that surely...
 

2144superman

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1.5 for 4 years wtf? That’s 375k a year? Fuck me he’s worth more than that surely...
"Crichton is close to signing a $1.5 million, three-year extension which will have him remain a Panther until the end of 2024." $500k a season.
 

Raysie

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Seriously how is he and the guy we have brothers? One looks like an athlete, while the other looks like he should be the cashier at Cotton-On.
 

B-Train

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Great.. I'm glad we signed Christian for three years instead of him.
 

boggie23

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Seriously how is he and the guy we have brothers? One looks like an athlete, while the other looks like he should be the cashier at Cotton-On.
Christian reminds me of an umpa lumpa the way he turns and runs after kicks. He looks like he gets no traction because it takes him like 6 steps to get off the mark.

Definitely picked up the wrong brother with that one :( But good on penrith, they deserve to keep their talent. And by 2024 he will be on 500k? thats unders, he'll be 23 by then and if his development continues he will have 65 more NRL trys then his brother.
 

Baby Blues

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Why is Crichton signing a new deal at all? Bad advice from his manager when he could just play out next season and assess his options then. By next year he could be worth far more than $500k a season
 

oldpuppy

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Seriously how is he and the guy we have brothers? One looks like an athlete, while the other looks like he should be the cashier at Cotton-On.
Panthers got the brother on the left. We got the guy next to him. 220px-Twins_Poster.jpg
 

Moedogg

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Make him an offer he can't refuse.... Either he sign with us or his bro will never see the light of FG again.
 

Daustin

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shame if we miss out on him but just means the panthers will have less money to offer to burton. I think that the lure of a first grade spot in the halves should be a big enough carrot for him to come over to us anyway but it certainly helps
 

Bulldog_4_Life

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It would be stupid of him to sign a contract before the end of the season. He would easily field offers higher offers in my opinion. But they are building something great over in Penrith so he might sign for less to stay.
 

Nano

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Fuck his brother off now then lmao, don’t need dead light weight that won’t help get him here...

Also surely the NRL can refuse this contract as he seems under his real market value with this deal?
 

Dannyboi88

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I believe we called to enquire about Steven years ago and we signed christen by mistake cause he answered Steve’s phone
 

Bulldogsteve

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I believe we called to enquire about Steven years ago and we signed christen by mistake cause he answered Steve’s phone
very funny lol. We were never a chance of a getting Crichton, the panthers have a "superstar" status on him.
they cant keep everyone tho, Naden would be a cheaper pick up in the centres.
 

Dannyboi88

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very funny lol. We were never a chance of a getting Crichton, the panthers have a "superstar" status on him.
they cant keep everyone tho, Naden would be a cheaper pick up in the centres.
Naden or Staines thanks
 
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