Cashed-up rivals ready to pounce on young star

Panthers nice Ryan Girdler has warned his former aspect that rival groups may lure younger star Stephen Crichton away from Penrith with “fullback cash” because the membership seems to be to maintain maintain of the centre.

Crichton, 20, endured a breakout 2020 season with the Panthers, scoring 17 tries for the membership from 22 appearances.

The centre was awarded a spot in Blues coach Brad Fittler’s Origin squad for his efforts however is but to make his debut for New South Wales after being dominated out for Wednesday’s Sport 2 conflict with the Maroons attributable to a hamstring damage.

Girdler stated he had no doubts Crichton may make the swap from centre to fullback with the idea the younger star will finally make the transfer as rival groups look to do what the Rabbitohs did with Latrell Mitchell after he left the Roosters.

“I do know they’ve had him come on at fullback and I feel he debuted at fullback, however he can come on wherever and make an affect this man,” Girdler advised Triple M.

“He can come on the wing at a pinch. He’s definitely an ideal centre. However possibly somebody goes to need him to be a bit extra concerned like a Latrell Mitchell.

“Perhaps somebody goes to need to snap him up and make him right into a fullback as a result of he’s six foot 4 inches and 100 kilos. He is a good athlete.

“There is no such thing as a purpose to consider that he couldn’t make an ideal fullback and they’re in all probability a very powerful place within the sport for the time being.”

Stephen Crichton scores for Penrith

Girdler admitted Penrith’s tight wage cap may open the gate for rival golf equipment to throw “fullback cash” at Crichton with centres usually not incomes the identical pay-packet as a participant within the No.1 jersey.

“They cannot pay him fullback cash,” Girdler added.

“But when somebody needs to come back in and provides him fullback cash I would not be shocked.

“However they should pay him what a centre is paid. However an Origin centre and he won’t play Origin this 12 months, however I feel we now have all seen the trajectory that he’s on.

“He must be cautious too as a younger man that has performed in a grand closing and been within the Origin squad that getting a mistaken name now may set him again as nicely.

“He needs to play finals and be at a membership that’s worthy of successful a premiership, so he needs to ensure he will get this name proper as nicely.”

The 2003 premiership winner believes how Penrith approaches its wage cap with a variety of younger stars but to re-sign, will resolve whether or not they’re a staff competing for a premiership shifting ahead.

“It’s laborious to say as a result of I do not know what form their wage cap is in. They’ve introduced a variety of younger guys in during the last couple of seasons,” he stated.

“Nathan Cleary is on a good whack. James Tamou moved on and he was on some huge cash. They’ve been capable of exchange him with guys which can be on half his wage.

“They want to create space of their cap for Jarome Luai and Isaah Yeo goes to need an improve. James Fisher Harris and Liam Martin.

“These selections over the following couple of years will decide whether or not or not Penrith can keep on the prime of the tree for an extended interval or whether or not they simply fall again down the ladder.”