STEPHEN Crichton’s finals involvement is under a cloud as his Canterbury were edged by Melbourne in a brising opening to the NRL finals.
The Dogs will play the winner of tomorrow’s Warriors-Penrith elimination final next week, while the Storm advance to a preliminary final.
NSW and Samoa star Crichton was on crutches at fulltime after suffering a suspected syndesmosis injury in the first half.
“It’s hard to know now without getting scans but um yeah, when you can’t finish a game, it’s not looking great,” coach Cameron Ciraldo said.
“But as I said, we’ve got a lot of depth in our squad and some guys are going to get opportunities and that’s going to be great for them.”
Ciraldo said he was confident of Matt Burton covering for his captain in the play-offs.
The brutality started early with Canterbury’s Fijian star Viliame Kikau floored with a blow to the eye early before passing HIA. For Melbourne, Joe Chan was injured early.
Tries in the final 15 minutes to replacement Tyran Wishart and winger Will Warbrick in the final 15 minutes won the day after Matt Burton put the Dogs ahead with the try he converted himself in the 57th minute.
MELBOURNE 26 (Katoa Lisati Wishart Warbrick tries Meaney 3 Pezet 2 goals) beat CANTERBURY 18 (Sexton Kiraz Burton tries Burton 3 goals) at AAMI Park.
Teams:
MELBOURNE: Nick Meaney; Will Warbrick, Grant Anderson, Jack Howarth, Xavier Coates; Cameron Munster, Jonah Pezet; Stefano Utoikamano, Harry Grant (c), Josh King, Joe Chan, Eliesa Katoa, Trent Loiero. Res: Tyran Wishart, Ati Lisati, Alec Macdonald, Tui Kamakamica. 18th man: Bronson Garlick.
CANTERBURY: Connor Traecey; Jethro Rinakama, Enari Tuala, Stephen Crichton (c), Jacob Kiraz; Matt Burton, Lachlan Galvin; Max King, Bailey Hayward, Josh Curran, Viliame Kikau, Jacob Preston, Jaeman Salmon. Res: Kurt Mann, Sitili Tupounua, Toby Sexton, Harry Hayes. 18th man: Blake Wilson.
Referee: Adam Gee.