Bulldogs Face Tough Decision After Crichton’s Injury
Billy Slater, a former NRL star and respected figure in the rugby league world, has expressed his surprise at the decision made by the Bulldogs following Stephen Crighton’s injury during their match against Souths. Slater believes it wouldn’t be unexpected if Bronson Xerri, who was on the bench, decided to leave the club after being overlooked for the position.
Crichton suffered an AC joint injury when he was tackled by Jack Wighton and Campbell Graham shortly after half-time. This forced him off the field, leading to a change in the team’s strategy. Instead of bringing on Xerri, who had been on the six-man bench, coach Cameron Ciraldo opted to move Matt Burton to centre and Sean O’Sullivan into the halves. This decision marked the second consecutive weekend where this move was made.
Xerri has not played for the Bulldogs since the opening round in Las Vegas, raising questions about his role within the team. The move has sparked discussions among fans and experts alike, with many questioning why Xerri wasn’t brought onto the field.
At the time of Crichton’s injury, the Bulldogs were leading 18-12, but the Rabbitohs managed to take control of the game. NRL legend Cameron Smith criticized the Bulldogs’ decision not to replace Crichton with Xerri, calling it a “strange move.” Slater, who played alongside Smith, echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that Xerri might not remain with the club for much longer.
“Bonson Xerri is a left centre, like an out and out left centre, that’s why he went back to reserve grade because they moved him over to the right,” Slater said on Nine’s coverage. “They put Sean O’Sullivan in the halves and they moved Matt Burton. That was a really interesting move and just shows you where Bronson Xerri sits right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s not at that club for very much longer.”
Smith also highlighted the impact of Crichton’s injury as a turning point in the match. “The coach then chose to put on Sean O’Sullivan instead of Bronson Xerri, we thought that was a strange move,” he said. “From there, the attack just stopped, it was very lacklustre and they couldn’t find points.”
Connor Tracey, speaking after the game, admitted that the Bulldogs were prepared for the switch. “We’ve got Matt there who’s trained at centre, he does a good job there,” he told Nine’s Ruan Sims. “We’ve trained for those situations, it was unlucky to fall away there.”
Ciraldo explained the decision to not bring Xerri onto the field, citing communication as the key factor. “When you lose your best communicator, I needed to get another communicator out there,” he said in his press conference. “Sean’s one of the best for that.”
This incident has raised questions about the future of Xerri within the Bulldogs and the team’s approach to handling injuries. As the season progresses, the decisions made by the coaching staff will play a crucial role in determining the team’s success.
