EXCLUSIVE: Cameron Ciraldo’s deal to coach the Bulldogs ‘will see him bring Panthers star Stephen Crichton with him to Canterbury’
- Source with knowledge of negotiations revealed shock switch is on the cards
- Photo of Ciraldo meeting with son of Dogs major sponsor ignited speculation
- It’s widely thought defensive mastermind is about to be announced as coach
Highly sought-after Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo is close to signing a deal to coach Canterbury that includes him bringing Panthers superstar Stephen Crichton with him to the Bulldogs, a source with intimate knowledge of the negotiations as told Daily Mail Australia.
Ciraldo’s name has been linked to the job ever since Trent Barrett resigned in May, and he’s also been hunted by the Wests Tigers.
A photo showing him attending a secret lunch with his manager George Mimis and Craig Laundy, the son of Bulldogs major sponsor Arthur, emerged on Wednesday, fuelling intense speculation that the switch is a done deal.
A source with intimate knowledge of the negotiations between Ciraldo and Canterbury told Daily Mail Australia part of the deal includes bringing Stephen Crichton to Belmore
Ciraldo (far right) was pictured having a secret lunch meeting with Craig Laundy (left), son of Bulldogs major sponsor Arthur, in a photo that emerged on Wednesday
Crichton is contracted to Penrith until the end of 2023 and would not be the first big-name Panther to switch to the Bulldogs, with Viliame Kikau joining the club from next season.
The centre would command a huge salary after playing a big role in driving the club to the 2021 premiership and making his State of Origin debut for NSW this year.
His signing would be a coup for the struggling Belmore outfit, where he would reunite with his old teammate and fellow Blues star Matt Burton in the backline.
Signing Crichton – who is off contract with Penrith at the end of next season – would see him reunite with his former teammate Matt Burton in a suddenly deadly Bulldogs backline
Ciraldo developed a reputation as a head coach in waiting soon after he took over as head coach of Penrith’s National Youth Competition side in 2015, guiding the team to a stellar year in which they won 18 of their 24 games.
He was promoted to assistant coach of the club’s NRL side in 2017, and served as caretaker head coach after Anthony Griffin’s sacking in 2018 before the club recruited Ivan Cleary to fill the top job.
The 37-year-old has been credited with being the mastermind who turned the Panthers’ defence into one of the best in the competition as the team completed its rapid rise from also-rans to the class of the NRL.
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