The Canterbury Bulldogs’ finals campaign has been thrown into turmoil with at least six players either sidelined or under an injury cloud ahead of next weekend’s semi-final showdown against reigning premiers Penrith.
Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton has been officially ruled out after sustaining a syndesmosis injury in last week’s 26-18 loss to Melbourne Storm.
General manager Phil Gould confirmed to AAP via a text message that the 24-year-old faces “two to four weeks” on the sidelines. While his season is not over, Crichton will only have a chance to return if Canterbury make it through to the grand final.
Adding to the Bulldogs’ woes, Toby Sexton is also in doubt as he battles a sternum injury.
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The Bulldogs’ original starting halfback, sidelined since round 19, is battling what Phil Gould described to AAP as a ‘badly bruised clavicular joint’ and will undergo scans on Monday to determine the extent of the damage.
After an impressive first-grade return—coming off the bench for the injured Crichton and scoring a try with his first touch—he may need a pain-killing injection to take his place in the halves, with Matt Burton likely to shift into the centres, according to Code Sports.
The injury toll doesn’t stop there, as Viliame Kikau has undergone scans for a suspected fractured eye socket.
Gould told AAP that the injury “appears to be stable”, leaving the forward with a chance to face his former club as the Bulldogs push on in their finals campaign.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are set to be without three of their wingers, who are expected to miss next week’s clash due to serious and lengthy injuries.
Enari Tuala’s season is over after fracturing his tibia against Melbourne, Marcelo Montoya is in significant doubt following a second scan that revealed further ankle damage, and young speedster Jethro Rinakama is also battling an ankle injury, facing a race against time to be fit.
The mounting injury crisis leaves the Bulldogs scrambling ahead of a do-or-die clash against Penrith at Accor Stadium on Sunday afternoon.