The Mole: If the Blues were picked on form, the Bulldogs 'disaster' has played Stephen Crichton out of it
If the New South Wales team was picked on form, the Bulldogs would have played Stephen Crichton out of contention for State of Origin I.
Crichton is one of the most respected players in the game and is almost certain to be named by Laurie Daley for the series opener.
But the disaster that is the Bulldogs spine has resulted in Crichton struggling for quality ball, and his form has dipped as a result.
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Stephen Crichton would struggle to get in the Blues team if it was picked solely on form. Getty
The Bulldogs skipper scored his first try of the season as his team was humbled by the Dolphins 44-12 on Thursday night and outside that was barely sighted.
The fact he is getting the ball with little time and space has restricted Crichton to just two try assists all season as well.
Playing in a classy NSW side should bring out the best in Crichton – but that's IF he is selected.
Latrell Mitchell is a lock for one centre spot, with Crichton battling the very much more in-form Kotoni Staggs for the other.
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The Bulldogs had all the early ball, all the early penalties, all the early six-agains and were in a winning position at 12-4 as a result.
But as the referee evened things up, they crumbled embarrassingly to concede 40 straight points to the rampaging Dolphins.
The Phins were too strong up front, halves Isaiya Katoa and Kodi Nikorima were too clever and out wide, Selwyn Cobbo, Jamayne Isaako, Jack Bostock and Hamiso Tabuai-Fido were a class above their opposites.
The Bulldogs are now 3-6 and getting worse by the week, with finals football looking way out of their reach.
