Stephen Crichton, the Canterbury Bulldogs captain, is preparing for State of Origin I despite struggling with form after a severe shoulder injury in round five.The grade-five AC joint injury sidelined him for two games, and he admits his performance hasn’t yet returned to his usual high standard.

Nevertheless, Crichton has a reputation for stepping up on the big stage, including scoring four tries across grand finals and notable contributions at Test and Origin level.

NSW coach Laurie Daley has expressed confidence in Crichton, opting to include him in the Blues squad amid injuries to other key centres such as Latrell Mitchell, Bradman Best, and Campbell Graham.

Crichton, who hasn’t missed an Origin match since his debut in 2022, said he feels a responsibility to repay the trust placed in him and plans to train hard to deliver a strong performance.He acknowledged concerns about his form but emphasised that his focus has remained on his Bulldogs club duties.

The 25-year-old sees this period as an opportunity to grow both as a player and a person, learning the importance of sticking to the process and keeping his circle small.

Following his recent return to full training without the need for pre-game needles, Crichton expressed excitement at being able to participate fully in Blues sessions for the first time since his injury.