- Stephen Crichton has been dealing with a worrying injury
- Bulldogs skipper is ‘scared’ it could become permanent
Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton has opened up about the devastating impact of a tackle from last year that the superstar centre fears might trouble him for the rest of his life.
The 24-year-old was hurt in a tackle in the first half against the Knights over the weekend, but managed to see out the rest of the match.
He’s been cleared to play Friday’s match against the Rabbitohs, but has revealed that the injury is something he’s been dealing with since last year.
The incident occurred in Townsville when Crichton was tackled by three Cowboys which caused him to lose all feeling in his right arm.
Crichton said he had a similar feeling when he was hurt during the Knights match.
‘My body has been all right, but that nerve stuff is something small from last year that I was carrying,’ he told NewsWire.
Stephen Crichton has opened up about the shocking impact of a tackle from last year
The Bulldogs superstar fears the injury might trouble him for the rest of his life
‘It comes and goes sometimes when I get hit right on that spot. It doesn’t matter how hard it is, but my whole arm just goes dead.
‘It’s nothing that I can strap or put a pad on it so I have to be smart with my tackles.
‘I had to go get scans and it showed that I pinched a nerve up at the back of my head. It’s the nerve that attaches to my arm and gives my arm feeling.’
Crichton says he’s worried that next time he cops a similar knock the injury might become permanent.
‘My whole arm goes dead and I can’t really feel it, and it actually takes a while for my feeling to come back,’ he explained.
‘I’m scared that one time I might hit it and not get any (feeling back) so you never know.
‘Once I start to get that feeling back, I know that I’m sweet because I’ve done it a few times.
‘But I’m definitely scared that one time I might do it and that feeling doesn’t come back.’
Crichton has been cleared to play against Souths on Friday
Crichton has emerged as a key team leader since arriving from Penrith in 2024, with the Samoan international being named Captain of the Year.
Results on the field are continuing to speak for themselves, with the Bulldogs going 5-0 this season for the first time in 32 years.
