The former Penrith player showed how much the club and his ex-teammates mean to him.
Stephen Crichton was spotted sitting with the families of the Penrith Panthers’ players on Saturday night in a perfect example of the culture Ivan Cleary has created at the club. The Panthers will play in their fifth-straight grand final after dispatching Cronulla 26-6 in their preliminary final, and will shoot for a fourth-consecutive premiership in the decider against the Storm.
To make five-straight grand finals is nothing short of astonishing, particularly considering the plethora of big-name stars the Panthers have lost due to the salary cap. The likes of Crichton, Api Koroisau, Matt Burton, Spencer Leniu and Viliame Kikau have all been forced to leave the Panthers in recent years because they can’t afford to keep them, while Jarome Luai will join the Wests Tigers in 2025.
But the bond that former players still share with their ex-teammates and the club was epitomised by Crichton on Saturday night. The Bulldogs captain was seen sitting with the families of Panthers players at Accor Stadium, and still clearly considers himself part of the Penrith family.
One fan wrote on social media: “Critta (Crichton) sitting amongst the Panthers family. Not used to watching footy at this time of the year.” Another replied: “Was he really? Amongst the families?! That speaks volumes.” While a third added: “He’ll always be a part of this club no matter what jersey. I love the support these boys show for each other. Even Api last year.”
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