Stephen Crichton set to re-sign with Panthers on $1.5m deal
He attracted interest from six rival clubs, but the Penrith Panthers have moved quickly to re-sign their brightest young talent on a monster deal worth $1.5 million.
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He’s been described by Penrith’s greatest player as an “exceptional and unique talent”, and now boom centre Stephen Crichton is poised to sign a rich long-term deal keeping him at the Panthers for the next four years.
Crichton is close to signing a $1.5 million, three-year extension which will have him remain a Panther until the end of 2024.
The looming deal with Crichton, who attracted interest from at least six NRL clubs, comes amid speculation the centre would be a target of the cashed-up Canterbury Bulldogs.
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Crichton, 19, is already under contract until the end of next season with the club hoping a new deal could be secured and announced inside the next month.
“Stephen is an exceptional talent,” said Penrith’s finest player and current club deputy chairman Greg Alexander.
“He is a unique talent. He is a great athlete but he also has a good football brain. He is quick, got terrific hands and can jump.
“Stephen is an all-round footy player. We hope (the deal) can be done soon.”
Immortal Andrew Johns also had high praise for Crichton.
“What an athlete this young man is — a special talent,” Johns said on Nine on Sunday.
Crichton’s re-signing was discussed at a Panthers’ recruitment and retention meeting last week.
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Crichton has scored a try in each of his past six games, including two-try efforts in two of those matches.
He has scored 10 tries in 11 games this season and posted 10 line breaks. In the past three games, Crichton has run for 408 metres. Crichton has formed a lethal edge combination with Penrith wrecking ball Viliame Kikau.
Crichton has been credited with leading Penrith’s next wave of youngsters.
The Samoan-born Crichton, who played junior rugby league with the St Clair Comets, is free to field offers from November 1 this year but Penrith want him off the market by then.
He recently said contract negotiations would “take care of themselves.”
There had been suggestions Canterbury may pounce given Crichton’s brother, Christian, is a Bulldogs winger. Crichton debuted in round 21 last year against Cronulla.
Panthers teammate, Matt Burton, is another free to field offers from November 1 this year. Burton, who played off the bench against Gold Coast on Sunday, has also been linked to the Bulldogs.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary selected four halves against Gold Coast — Burton, Tyrone May, Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai.
Rival clubs have questioned whether the club can afford to retain all four in their salary cap although Penrith is confident they can retain Burton.
Originally published as Stephen Crichton set to re-sign with Panthers on $1.5m deal