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Stephen Crichton has failed in his bid to return for Canterbury.Credit: Getty Images
“For a second we thought he was a chance. But he just couldn’t get the strength that he needed.
“It’s a credit to him and the medical team. They worked around the clock to try and get him there. They left no stone unturned, and that’s all you can ask.
“It was a long shot at the start of the week anyway. We prepared without him, so we’ll stick to that.”
Ciraldo was not prepared to look beyond the Panthers and whether Crichton would be available for a potential preliminary final against the Broncos, but said: “If he keeps continuing like that, anything is possible.”
Matt Burton will start in the centres, with Toby Sexton and Lachie Galvin to link in the halves, which is how the Bulldogs lined up for the final hour against the Storm.
Ciraldo confirmed Viliame Kikau, who will lead the club in Crichton’s absence, was refusing to have scans on a potential facial fracture because he feared it would reveal bad news. The fact the back-rower finished the game against the Storm had given Ciraldo and the medical team faith Kikau was at no risk of further injury.
“I don’t think the scan was going to tell him anything he wanted to know,” Ciraldo said.
“It was incredibly brave from him to get through the game last week. He’s done a bit of training this week, and he’ll be ready to go.
“I’m not a doctor, but [there’s no further risk of damage] that I know of. He understands where he’s at. With the nine-day turnaround, he’ll be ready.
“Both of those guys [Kikau and Crichton] are just pros who want to win, and will do anything to win.
Viliame Kikau has refused to undergo scans for a potential facial fracture.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s what we’ve been trying to build here, we’re getting more and more of those types of people – they go to extraordinary lengths to try and get out there and play and try to win. It’s incredible leadership from the two of them.”
News Corp referred to the Bulldogs as the “Temu Panthers” this week, which was a cheeky reference to the Belmore club being a second-rate version of the premiers. Ciraldo, Crichton, Kikau, Jaeman Salmon and Burton all won premierships at Penrith.
Ciraldo said he laughed when he saw the headline, but made it clear on Saturday he was not impressed.
“It’s a ridiculous headline – but there have been plenty of them this year,” Ciraldo said.
“I don’t have a subscription to it, but someone showed me [the story] and I had a laugh about it.
“If you look around the league, there are more Penrith Panthers players at other clubs than there are here. It’s a nice headline.
The Phil Gould cookie being sold at Jobel’s Cafe.
“No one really cares. If you want to call us the ‘Temu Panthers’ or whatever, we’ll have a laugh about it.
“We’ve got a Bulldogs team here that we’re so proud of, our community is so proud of, and we get to celebrate that on Sunday.
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“Just go down the street and see the blue and white and how the people are excited. It’s so special to us.”
Jobel’s Cafe, a popular eatery on the main street of Belmore, was buzzing on Saturday, with special cookies designed with the players’ faces on them. There were even versions featuring Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould. One customer noted the “Gus” cookie tasted a little sour.
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