MONDAY NOVEMBER 16 2020 SPORT 37 Panthers to seal deal Wighton on Crichton DEAN RITCHIE

ENDING months of specu- lation, Penrith is ready to sign tackles Stephen Crichton to a new three-year deal before then moving to retain the NSW superstar for the rest of his NRL playing career. The Panthers will hold a re- tention committee meeting problem today when the Crichton deal will be fast-tracked. C r i c h t o n (pictured), 19, is under contract until the end of next year, with head-on Penrith’s new deal to take NICK CAMPTON him off the market until AS prepares to after 2024. return to the scene of his tough “He won’t Origin debut in Wednesday’s be going anywhere,” declared decider at Suncorp Stadium, Panthers chief executive Brian the Dally M medallist has re- Fletcher. vealed how he turned things “Our negotiations will con- around following his lacklustre tinue to finalise a deal where display in the series opener. we see the young kid stay here, The Canberra star was back hopefully for an extension of to his best in for the three years and then hopefully second game of the series, be a Panther for life. scoring his first Origin try and “When you keep the right getting back to the form that’s players, you want to make sure made him one of the game’s you’ve got them long-term. most dangerous players. “It will be further discussed It followed a night to forget (this) morning. It’s a matter of for Wighton in the Blues’ furthering the deal and then shock 18-14 loss in Adelaide finalising a contract in the best where he lost his battle with interests of both parties. opposite number , “Stephen lives in the local missing seven tackles, includ- Blues star Jack Wighton. area with Brian To’o and Jar- ing one on the Maroons centre ome Luai. He will be a Panther, that led to a Xavier Coates’ try “That’s what rep games are for sure. We have to look after which gave Queensland the all about. You’re coming to- the kid and we have to look lead for the first time. gether with fellas you’ve never after Penrith and we are confi- “I let myself down a little bit played with before and you dent all that will happen.” in Game 1, so it was good to need to work those little things Asked did he fear Crichton make up for it,” Wighton said. out,” Wighton said. could walk away from Penrith, Josh Addo-Carr at NSW Origin training on the NSW Central Coast. Picture: David Swift “I felt solid all over the park “That’s how you get your Fletcher said: “No, not at all.” but the missed tackles was confidence, from the confi- Penrith claim the delay in something I needed to work dence of the boys around you. negotiations has been through out because I usually gain a lot They’re really helping.” Crichton’s decision to switch WE WON’T WAIT TO LOSE of confidence out of my de- Wighton is not the sort of from manager Mark Stewart to fence. player who dwells on his errors Ultra Management Sports’ MICHAEL CARAYANNIS one of those states. We (defensively) at stages,” “It’s unfortunate it had to be – for him, the only way forward Sam Ayoub. didn’t really attack (in Origin Fittler said. on the biggest stage, but it’s is to get back on the horse. Crichton’s move from Stew- has warned his I). It was a bit like that (not “We were a bit still a missed tackle. That attitude is what art at the end of October has players not to “wait to get playing to lose). compressed. Foxy (Josh “Someone misses a tackle stopped his Origin debut last further complicated and de- beaten” as they prepare for “We wasted the first half. Addo-Carr) scares me but I every weekend, you have to re- year from ruining his confi- layed negotiations. Wednesday’s Origin decider. We were 10-0 up and didn’t leave that in his capable member that. dence after he threw an inter- Panthers coach It has been 15 years since earn it. Then they turned hands. He tells me he knows “It’s unfortunate it hap- cept that Gagai took the length and general manager rugby the Blues last won a decider around with a good wind and what he is doing. I’m only on pened on the biggest stage of the field to score. league Matt Cameron have at Suncorp Stadium with a a couple of great halfbacks the sidelines.” possible, but it’s still only a It was the kind of play that been in constant dialogue with team that featured Craig and blew us off the park.” Fittler knows the Blues missed tackle – it’s something would haunt many, but Wight- Crichton and Ayoub. Fitzgibbon and Danny The Blues had a far more are going to face a better you can fix.” on has only gone from There had been speculation Buderus — now part of the compressed defensive line in Queensland side. The return Wighton looked sharper in strength to strength since. that Canterbury and Sydney NSW coaching staff. game two as they tried to of Christian Welch at prop Origin II and his combination The 27-year-old is relishing Roosters were monitoring the Fittler said his team rush the Maroons with their from concussion is a massive with five-eighth Cody Walker the chance to return to Sun- Crichton situation at Penrith. needed to ensure they were line-speed. It was on show boost after he terrorised grew as the game went on. corp Stadium amid a hostile “Nothing has changed from pushing for victory rather from the opening set of the ’s kicking game Walker had a field day and reception from the Maroons Penrith’s point of view – the than just waiting for game when NSW bashed the in Origin I, while Cameron played a leading role in cre- crowd. only thing that has changed something to happen, as Maroons, forcing them to Munster will return after ating several tries, but there “These are the games you was that the Crichton family they did in their Origin I loss. kick from deep in their half. playing just two minutes last was little craft required for look forward to. It’ll be a tough wanted to change manager, “There are always Despite the success, Wednesday. Wighton’s four-pointer – the one and a hostile one,” Wight- which they have now done,” reactions in Origin,” Fittler Fittler nervously watched on “Late off-loads and Orange junior beat Gagai all on said. Fletcher said. said. “We need a good as his side tempted the (Welch) has a lot to his ends up with a left-foot step “Queensland being “He is only 19 years old. You reaction to winning rather Maroons to spin it wide by game,” Fittler said. before surging onward to Queensland, they’re always have to respect the kid and let than waiting to get beat. One offering them plenty of “He is an effective score. going to be tough. him play footy before you put team usually lacks a bit of spaces on the outside. defender. Munster will be The budding tandem be- “They’ll rise to the occasion. too much responsibility on to desperation. We have to “I would have liked to there as well. It’s going to be tween the two Indigenous stars “I’m just looking to do Jack him.” make sure we don’t get in have been a bit wider a different footy team.” shapes as one of the Blues’ Wighton’s best, play to the best major weapons in the decider. of my ability.”

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