New particulars have emerged relating to Stephen Crichton’s departure from the Panthers — and why the premiership-winning gun was left feeling undesirable by his boyhood membership.
The 22-year-old signed a four-year cope with the Bulldogs final week, becoming a member of former assistant Cameron Ciraldo in making the transfer to Belmore.
Panthers premiership winners Viliame Kikau and Matt Burton will each additionally ply their commerce for the Canterbury-Bankstown membership in 2023.
Watch each sport LIVE & ad-break free throughout play is on FOX LEAGUE with Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Bulldogs land Panthers star in lengthy deal | 00:49
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Crichton got here off-contract in the identical 12 months as Liam Martin, Brian To’o and Izack Tago — and with various high-profile weapons hoping for improved contracts, the Panthers have been set for a wage cap squeeze.
According to the SMH, Crichton, who has performed 76 video games for the Penrith powerhouse, discovered he was the person to be compelled out resulting from cap stress.
From then on, Crichton knew his future lay elsewhere and referred to as coach Ivan Cleary to tell him of his determination final Sunday.
“Through multiple discussions that I had with the club, our camp felt that Penrith were reluctant to come back to the negotiation table and had, in fact, decided to spend the money elsewhere,” Crichton’s supervisor Liam Ayoub mentioned to the Herald.
“Why else would they tell us, before they had re-signed other players, that Stephen could go to market? And at the same time, despite our attempts, also not come back to us with even a ballpark figure or perceived value from their end.”
The Panthers have been reportedly set to desk Crichton a brand new deal solely a day after he made his determination, with the membership’s final provide coming in May final 12 months.
Both Brian To’o and Izack Tago have been additionally supplied new contracts on the similar time and each are managed by Ayoub.
Tago’s deal was accomplished swiftly earlier than To’o signed a brand new deal in December, pushing aside negotiations till after the consultant season.
During that point Ayoub reportedly put ahead a one-year extension provide for Crichton which was price upwards of $800,000.
However, the Panthers response was blunt and reportedly left the gun centre feeling undesirable on the membership he made his debut at in 2019.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘DIDN’T TAKE MY BOOTS’: The story behind Broncos teen’s speedy rise
WHISPERS: Broncos set handy Taupau NRL lifeline after trumping two rival bids
TRANSFER CENTRE: Warriors launch younger weapons opening two prime 30 spots
‘SOMETHING WAS WRONG’: Broncos star reveals secret damage and the ‘risk’ he took
The newest within the NRL’s CBA saga | 02:34
Get all the most recent NRL news, highlights and evaluation delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
“We never received any terms back but were met with a ‘it may be best for Stephen to go to market’,” Ayoub mentioned.
“That offer from May was also no longer on the table.
“Then we were given an impression that Stephen would need to stay on money far lower than what he was on in 2023 to stay beyond that.”
The Panthers provide in May was reportedly a two-year extension price round $700,000 per-season, however after Ayoub tabled a one-year deal membership powerbrokers believed Crichton was prepared to depart.
The uncertainty surrounding the wage cap additionally muddied negotiations earlier than he put pen to paper on a four-year deal price in extra of $3.3 million {dollars}, in accordance with Fox League’s James Hooper.
Crichton, who has received back-to-back premierships in Penrith, might ply his commerce within the centres or at fullback underneath Ciraldo.
The Bulldogs have additionally tabled a mammoth provide to signal Eels halfback Mitchell Moses, whereas the Tigers have put ahead a contract price round $1.5 million per-season.