Canterbury Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton has been labelled a “protected species” by veteran journalist Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield following a controversial tackle on Ryan Papenhuyzen.
The incident occurred during Friday night’s clash at AAMI Park, when Crichton made contact with the Storm fullback’s face before driving him into the ground.
Despite the tackle sparking widespread criticism, Crichton escaped suspension and will instead receive only a fine if he takes the early guilty plea.
Speaking on NRL 360, Rothfield described Crichton’s actions against the Storm fullback as “a really ordinary act.”
MORE: Stephen Crichton belatedly charged with contrary conduct for Papenhuyzen incident
Buzz Rothfield calls out Stephen Crichton as ‘protected species’
“I saw that on Ryan Papenhuyzen the other night and I thought it was a really ordinary act on a glamour player,” Rothfield said.
“I’d never see him do it on a front row forward face to face. He’s done it on a little fullback.”
The incident occurred in the 27th minute of Friday night’s clash at AAMI Park, when Crichton made contact to the face of Papenhuyzen before forcing his head to the ground.
Crichton has since been charged with contrary conduct, but will escape suspension if he enters an early guilty plea, leaving him with just a $1000 fine.
Rothfield argued the Bulldogs star has avoided harsher penalties for repeated “cheap shots” throughout 2025.
Rap sheet grows for Bulldogs skipper
The Bulldogs captain has already been involved in several contentious incidents this season without missing games.
“I’ve gone back over his record and he’s had a lot of cheap shots in his game,” Rothfield said.
“He’s had two priors this year for dangerous contact. That was the third one over the weekend,” he said.
“Crichton had a knee to the head of the Dragons winger in Round 1. He then did a cheap shot to the head of Lindsay Collins.”
None of those incidents resulted in a suspension for the Bulldogs captain.
Two weeks for Grant, fine for Crichton
In the same match, Storm hooker Harry Grant was controversially sin-binned and suspended for two games over a shoulder charge.
“What was worse, what Harry Grant did or what Crichton did?” Rothfield asked.
“Harry’s shoulder charge wouldn’t have knocked me over.”
Crichton will be free to line up for the Bulldogs in Thursday night’s blockbuster against Penrith at Accor Stadium.