Stephen Crichton named Bulldogs player of the year as club celebrates before NRL finals

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton was named the club's player of the year at the Bulldogs' annual awards night, an event staged at the White Bay Cruise Terminal in Balmain as the team prepares for its NRL qualifying final.

The club celebrated a season that culminated in a third-place finish and a return to the finals hunt following a rebuild overseen by football director Phil Gould. Crichton received the Dr George Peponis Medal from his teammates and said recognition from within the playing group was particularly meaningful. "You always want to be recognised especially by your own teammates, and you want to be the guy that players want to play for," he said. "There's a lot that goes into a whole season and to be recognised for that as well is very special. The only thing to tick off now is a Grand Final."

The awards night was both a celebration and a moment to acknowledge contributors on and off the field. Connor Tracey was voted the Carroll & O'Dea Members NRL Player of the Year after a consistent season at fullback; the 28-year-old finished with four tries, 10 try assists and an average of 199 metres per game, including a standout 307-metre performance in Round 21 in a 42-4 victory over Manly.

Teenager Jethro Rinakama capped a breakout year by winning the Steve Mortimer Rookie of the Year Award. Rinakama made his first-grade debut in Round 19, scoring on debut against North Queensland before securing a match-winning try a week later against St. George Illawarra. He scored three tries in four appearances and has re-signed with the Bulldogs until 2027. "It's obviously a massive privilege," Rinakama said. "I was happy to just make my debut but to get Rookie of the Year, I'm really grateful for the coaching staff and my family as well."

Forward Max King took out the NRL Coaches Award after a campaign that saw him start 21 matches, average 135 metres and 33 tackles per game, and make his State of Origin debut for New South Wales, appearing in all three games of the series. King acknowledged the contribution of coach Cameron Ciraldo and his teammates in a season that has lifted the club's momentum.

Josh Curran received the Bulldogs' 2025 NRL Community Award in recognition of his work off the field. Curran spoke about the importance of mentoring younger players and community engagement, saying he hoped to help "guide the next generation".

The event had a celebratory atmosphere as players and their partners attended in formal attire, with several photographed enjoying the evening. Departing players were also acknowledged; hooker Reed Mahoney (set to join the North Queensland Cowboys), halfback Toby Sexton (joining Catalans Dragons) and Kurtis Morrin (moving to the Gold Coast Titans) were thanked for their service to the club.

Canterbury's season now pivots back to finals football. The Bulldogs will travel to AAMI Park on Friday night to face the Melbourne Storm in a qualifying final for a place in the preliminary final. The two clubs met in Round 25, when Melbourne held on for a 20-14 victory after a late Bulldogs rally left the contest close.

The awards night capped a visible lift in the club's fortunes after a full rebuild under Gould and a coaching program led by Ciraldo that returned the Bulldogs to finals contention in 2024 and produced a higher finish in 2025. Players said the recognition was accepted as fuel for the finals run, with the club clear that on-field success remains the primary goal as the NRL postseason begins.