Stephen Crichton avoids suspension, free for Origin selection after high shot on Rooster

Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton remains in contention for State of Origin selection after avoiding being suspended for a high shot on Roosters forward Lindsay Collins.

Crichton hit Collins high with his left shoulder during the Bulldogs' 24-20 win over the Tricolours on Friday night, but the star NSW Blues centre will only be fined $3000 if he accepts an early guilty plea.

The NRL's match review committee handed down a grade one dangerous contact charge for the Accor Stadium incident, which was Crichton's third offence on record.

READ MORE: 'Rocked the coach': Gus warns against Origin job for Turbo

READ MORE: Two Swans facing scrutiny over high bumps

READ MORE: Aussie Paris medallist Denny secures dominant victory

The 24-year-old will be suspended for two games in the highly improbable event that he challenges the charge at the judiciary and loses.

If Crichton had copped a suspension, the Blues would have lost their two incumbent centres in as many days having had Knights gun Bradman Best ruled out with a hamstring injury on Friday.

Best is expected to be unavailable for the first two games of the series, taking place at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on May 28 and Perth's Optus Stadium on June 18.

NSW coach Laurie Daley still has a myriad of options for his centre pairing as he prepares to name his squad for Origin I on Sunday night, with Crichton, Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic, Zac Lomax and Campbell Graham all in the mix.

Speaking on Nine's post-match coverage of the Bulldogs-Roosters clash, former NSW coach Brad Fittler predicted that Crichton would not be suspended.

"I think the way the game has moved since a couple of weeks ago that it won't be too bad," Fittler said.

"He's gone in with the shoulder ... but I think he will be OK."

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

Queensland Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston was not so lenient, stating Crichton had a "duty of care".

"There needs to be a wrapping-of-arms motion; he's not done that at all," Thurston, a Queensland assistant coach, said on Nine.

"It will be very interesting to see what the match review committee have to say."

Fittler tipped Mitchell and Crichton to win the Blues' centre spots.

"It'll be Latrell on the left. I think Latrell has to get through the game [against Wests Tigers]. I reckon he will definitely be the left centre," Fittler said.

"On the right will be Crichton.

"It will be interesting what they do with Turbo [Trbojevic] and how he plays this week.

"There's a couple of big decisions for the coach."

Trbojevic will push his selection case when Manly takes on North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night, while Mitchell and Graham will do the same in the Rabbitohs' clash with the Tigers on Sunday night.

On Friday night, Lomax starred for the Eels in a 28-6 win against the Knights in Newcastle.