Here are the Canterbury Bulldogs injury players and their possible return dates ¹:
– Jacob Kiraz: shoulder injury, expected to return in Finals Week 1
– Josh Addo-Carr: ankle injury, expected to return in Finals Week 1
– Jeral Skelton: leg injury, expected to return in Finals Week 1
– Matt Burton: concussion, expected to return in Finals Week 1
– Bronson Xerri: suspension, expected to return in Finals Week 1
– Kurt Mann: fractured clavicle, expected to return in 2025
– Blake Wilson: ankle fracture and syndesmosis injury, expected to return in 2025
– Ryan Sutton: knee injury, expected to return in 2025
– Karl Oloapu: neck injury, expected to return in 2025
Cronulla forward Tom Hazelton is under an injury cloud for the opening week of the finals after he picked up a knee injury in Sunday’s clash with Manly.
The prop was limped away from a tackle and was hampered for a few minutes before he left the field in the 55th minute. He was ruled out of the game soon after, with his status for next week’s qualifying final uncertain.
Teammate Jesse Ramien has also been placed under an injury cloud after he left the contest late in the second half with an ankle injury.
Talking post-game, Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said the decision to take Ramien off was precautionary. Hazelton, however, will undergo further testing with Fitzgibbon unable to provide further detail regarding the injury.
Manly coach Anthony Seibold also provided an update on a pair of his injured stars. The Sea Eagles remain confident Tom Trbojevic will return next weekend, but there is still uncertainty over winger Jason Saab’s return from a high-ankle sprain.
There was good news for the Bulldogs heading into the finals with Matt Burton, Josh Addo-Carr and Bronson Xerri all back on deck next week and centre Jacob Kiraz expected to recover from a knock to his shoulder in the loss to the Cowboys.
Burton missed Round 27 under the concussion protocols, Addo-Carr was a late withdrawal with an ankle problem and Xerri was serving a suspension but coach Cameron Ciraldo said he expected all three to play in the club’s first finals match since 216.
Kiraz, meanwhile, looked to be in serious discomfort as he clutched his shoulder late in the 44-6 loss to the Cowboys but the coach was confident he would be good to go.
Eels playmaker Dylan Brown will not require surgery after scans cleared him of a serious knee injury.
There were fears the Kiwis star had suffered a ruptured ACL after he came from the field during Friday night’s 60-26 defeat of Wests Tigers but scans found less damage than first thought.
An Eels statement said Brown did not require surgery and the club’s medical staff were preparing a rehabilitation plan for him.
While Parramatta’s season is over, Brown had been expected to partner with Jahrome Hughes in the halves for the Kiwis in the upcoming Pacific Championships.
Fellow Eel Will Penisini also suffered a suspected MCL injury midway through the second half, while interim coach Trent Barrett revealed that Clint Gutherson and Kelma Tuilagi had been carrying injuries.
Gutherson had ignored broken ribs and quad injury for three weeks to lead the Eels to back-to-back wins that enabled the club to avoid the wooden spoon.
Penisini initially tried to play on after getting his knee strapped but came from the field with 12 minutes remaining. Tonga officials will be sweating on his fitness for the opening match of the Pacific Championships against Australia on October 18.
Storm fullback Sua Fa’alogo is set to miss the opening weeks of the finals after scans confirmed he had suffered a low-grade hamstring strain during Thursday night’s defeat of the Broncos.
Fa’alogo limped from the field midway through the second half of the 50-12 win at Suncorp Stadium and the Storm reported that he would be sidelined for two-to-three weeks.
“He thought he heard a pop in his hamstring, I don’t think he’s ever had a major injury before, but the medical staff don’t seem to think it’s too bad,” Storm coach Craig Bellamy said after the match.
The Samoa international had started the match in place of the injured Ryan Papenhuyzen, who is expected to return for Saturday’s qualifying final against the Sharks.
In other news, Cowboys prop Jordan McLean sat out his team’s regular season finale against the Bulldogs with a hamstring injury.
The veteran has managed hamstring concerns through much of the season and coach Todd Payten said his decision was a precautionary measure to ensure he is available for the opening week of the post-seas.
Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed star forward Thomas Flegler will undergo nerve transfer surgery for a shoulder issue that has kept him out of action since Round 5.
The Maroons representative played just four games this season after suffering the injury in the win over Wests Tigers and while the club were initially hopeful the issue would be minor, it has not responded to rehabilitation treatment.
“I’m not the doctor so I can’t tell you about it, but the nerve hasn’t responded, there’s nothing there, it’s not happening at all,” Bennett said.
“There’s restricted movement, fair bit of pain, so they believe this is an opportunity that they can take and hopefully get it right.
“No guarantees they will, but that’s the risk he’s taken and we’ll see where it goes.”
Leave a Reply