In a concerning incident during Saturday night’s NRL clash at Accor Stadium, Canterbury Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton was stretchered off the field after losing feeling in his arm, creating scary scenes for fans and teammates alike as the Bulldogs’ three-match winning streak came to a disappointing end against the Canberra Raiders.
The 25-year-old New South Wales Blues centre, who had been a standout performer in the decisive Origin victory just days earlier, was involved in an incidental bump with Raiders player Noah Martin close to the try line. Crichton immediately grabbed at his chest and displayed a limp right arm following the contact, prompting immediate medical attention. The injury led to a significant delay in play as trainers and medical staff assessed the situation, with the captain eventually leaving the field on a stretcher assisted by a medi-cab.
Post-match, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo provided an update, stating that Crichton was feeling somewhat better inside the sheds. “He did lose feeling down one arm there and it was a little bit scary. He wanted to get up but I think the trainers were just safety first and made him stay there,” Ciraldo said. The coach confirmed that this type of loss of feeling had occurred for Crichton previously within the last couple of years, and the player would undergo scans to ensure everything was okay. Positive signs emerged later as Crichton was seen walking around before full-time.
Teammate Kurt Mann described the atmosphere as chaotic, noting the emotional toll of seeing a close mate in distress. “Stephen’s one of our closest mates out there, so it was a little bit scary… a few boys went over and checked on him. You know the doctors and the physios were doing a good job on him, and we didn’t get too much feedback with him so we just tried to stay warm and prepare,” Mann said. The incident unfolded with around 15 minutes remaining in the match.
The game itself was a tale of errors for the Bulldogs, who committed 13 in total, including nine before halftime. In contrast, the Raiders capitalised effectively, led by a brilliant performance from young dummy-half Owen Pattie. Fox League commentator Michael Ennis praised Pattie as a “young dummy half on the road to stardom,” highlighting his two crucial 40/20 kicks that directly led to tries. Pattie’s vision and execution helped the Raiders score six tries to Canterbury’s three, securing a commanding 40-16 victory that kept their finals hopes alive.
Lock forward Zac Hosking was a standout for Canberra with a hat-trick of tries, powered by Pattie’s playmaking. Earlier in the season, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart’s decision to manage Pattie’s minutes through NSW Cup proved fruitful, allowing the young talent to handle bulk first-grade minutes effectively alongside Tom Starling. Other highlights included Xavier Savage’s opportunistic try after a try-saving effort by teammate Martin, embarrassing the Bulldogs defence in what became a long night for the home side.
Crichton had entered the match frustrated by the mounting errors from his team, adding to the disappointment of the loss. The Bulldogs will now focus on his recovery while reflecting on a performance that fell short of their recent standards. Further updates on Crichton’s condition are expected following medical assessments.
