Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton has asked NSW Police to not fine supporters celebrating in the street should Canterbury win Sunday’s elimination final against Manly.
Diehard Dogs fans have been coming alive in recent weeks to celebrate their team’s success by blasting car horns, beating drums and singing songs in the streets of Belmore.
It’s the club’s first NRL finals appearance since 2016 and some fans have found themselves in trouble with police – who have issued $400 fines and demerit points to fans who beep their horns.
Crichton thinks police shouldn’t be fining the passionate fans.
‘Yeah, I think so,’ he told News Corp when asked if police should reconsider the fines.
‘The celebrations don’t come with any ill intentions.
‘They have been coming out in the past few weeks to get behind us, it’s been crazy to see.
‘Our fans had some hard years before this one and all the boys love the fact they have a reason to be smiling this year. But we respect the police have a job to do.’
Dogs fans have also been shocked by the severity of the fines.
‘A $400 fine for beeping a horn? Are you serious?’ one supporter told The Daily Telegraph.
‘I would never be against the cops doing their job, we welcome the police being there for safety reasons. But they should cut us fans some slack.
‘If we make the grand final, I’m going to be camping out on Burwood Road all week.’
The losers of Sunday’s clash have their grand final dream dashed, while the winners progress to a semi-final against the Sydney Roosters, set to be held at Allianz Stadium next Saturday.
Crichton shies away from the suggestion that he is the Bulldogs’ best buy in 20 years.
Instead, he shines that light on coach Cameron Ciraldo, and what he has done since arriving as Bulldogs coach at the start of last year.
Crichton first played under Ciraldo in under-20s at Penrith, and compares his relationship with him to a father-son one.
The centre also makes no secret of the fact Ciraldo’s appointment at the Bulldogs was a big reason for his own move.
The confidence he puts in me to go out and do my job is massive,’ Crichton said.
‘We definitely wouldn’t be here without him.
‘He’s the exact same as he was back then, the confidence he puts into the players and the way he coaches us.’
For so long consigned to the bottom quarter of the table, Ciraldo has taken the Bulldogs from a basket case on the field to a legitimate force.
Employing the same defensive system he installed at Penrith, the Bulldogs sat No.1 in the league in that department until the final two weeks of the regular season.
Eight times this year they have kept an opposition scoreless in the second half, with Ciraldo adapting the old Penrith system to Canterbury’s smaller and more mobile pack.
‘I’ve been meaning to sit down with him and reflect over the year,’ Crichton said.
‘I don’t think he even realises what he has done with the club. I am so happy he is finally getting the credit he deserves.
‘No one knows a defensive system like he does. It’s finally good to see the credit he deserves and recognition everyone is giving him.
‘I’m very proud of him.’
