From ballboy to centre stage: Critta ready for Cauldron after Blues SOS

Stephen Crichton’s only previous Origin experience at Suncorp Stadium was as a ball boy in 2020 but The Cauldron holds no fears for him after being called into the NSW side to replace Latrell Mitchell.

Crichton, who was initially named as 18th man for the Blues, will play left centre – as he did in the series opener at Adelaide Oval – after Mitchell again succumbed to a calf injury.

The decision was made by Blues coach Brad Fittler, Mitchell and the medical staff after they determined he would not have overcome the injury in time for next Wednesday night’s game.

Crichton was also promoted from 18th player to start in Origin I after Mitchell suffered the injury at NSW’s final training session before flying to Adelaide.

Bulldogs playmaker Matt Burton, who made his Blues debut last year and was called in to replace Crichton as 18th man in Origin I, will again fulfil the role in Brisbane.

With Mitchell on a restricted training program, Crichton had been preparing as if he was going to play in case the Rabbitohs superstar failed to overcome his injury.

“Freddy explained that to me when he called me up on Monday night,” Crichton said.

“[Fittler said] I just have to prepare the way I usually do and prepare as if I’m going to play just in case something happens, just like the last game.”

The Panthers star has been a member of the NSW squad since 2020 but he did not make his Origin debut until last year’s series, when Mitchell was sidelined by a hamstring injury.

With Origin played at the end of the season in 2020 due to COVID, Crichton and Samoa team-mate Jarome Luai performed ball boy duties for the series decider at Suncorp Stadium.

“The last time I was there I was a ball boy for the boys, so I’m pretty keen for it again,” Crichton told NRL.com

“It was in 2020, the Covid year, and me and Romey were ball boys there We were getting roasted by the fans, it was pretty mad.

"I remember imagining what it would be like to play out there, with that crowd. I was nervous for the boys and I wasn’t even playing.

“But, yeah, I was just happy to be there and be around the boys. I was only about 20 years-old at the time."

Since then, Crichton has won two premierships with Penrith and spearheaded Samoa into last year's World Cup final at Old Trafford with an extra time field goal against England in the semi-final.

He played all three Origin's last year in Mitchell's absence and has now been called in to replace him in the first two matches of this year's series.

"Every team always has an 18th man and my role doesn’t change. I'll be ready to go," Crichton said.