Canterbury suffered a major blow during their qualifying final loss to Melbourne as Stephen Crichton was forced off with an ankle injury.
The Bulldogs got off to a nightmare start at AAMI Park as Viliame Kikau copped an accidental elbow to the face during the side's first defensive set.
The backrower was assessed for structural damage to his face during a lengthy stoppage before eventually being taken off for more tests.
Yet while Kikau was in the sheds, Crichton was the next Dogs star to go down injured as the captain trapped his leg awkwardly underneath himself while making a tackle on Joe Chan.
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Bulldogs hit with major Stephen Crichton injury blow during Storm defeat
The centre tried to battle through the pain barrier for several minutes, but he was eventually taken off after being unable to overcome the issue.
Toby Sexton, who recalled into the side in a surprise late development, replaced Crichton.
Sexton’s first touch was to slice his way through the Storm line and score to level proceedings.
Remarkably, the try assist was provided by Kikau, who had only just been thrown back into action after he passed his HIA and was cleared of any serious damage to his eye socket.
"Crichton has suffered an ankle injury and the doctor is assessing it at the moment," Jake Duke reported on Fox League amid the celebrations.
However, the news that followed shortly afterwards wasn’t good, with the club fearing their talisman may have suffered a syndesmosis injury.
Despite the concerns, Crichton was not immediately ruled out of the game as he attempted to keep warm on the sidelines.
But he did not return and due to his enforced absence, Cameron Ciraldo was forced into shuffling his spine and backline.
Stephen Crichton won’t return & will go for scans after suffering a suspected syndesmosis injury (high ankle sprain).
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) September 12, 2025
Mechanism fairly textbook - foot caught under him turns up & out. Fact he couldn’t continue + use of moonboot brings concern for at least a moderate sprain - if… pic.twitter.com/7eCnk7RVJC
Sexton was moved into the halves after initially being floated as cover at hooker for Bailey Haywood off the pine.
Meanwhile, Matt Burton, who started the game in his customary five-eighth position, switched to the centres.
Sexton’s arrival actually sparked the Dogs in attack as the formerly exiled No.7 was direct and linked well with Lachlan Galvin to send Jacob Kiraz over in the corner as the visitors grabbed the lead.
Yet in an enthralling first stanza, the Storm responded via Ativalu Lisati as the forward forced his way over after a short side raid from Cameron Munster.
Crichton was pictured in a moon boot and on crutches upon the commencement of the second half in a dire development for the skipper and the Bulldogs.
And things went from bad to worse for them as Enari Tuala soon joined Crichton on the sidelines after suffering a calf injury.
Ciraldo's outit battled valiantly despite the injury blows, but were eventually toppled by the Storm 26-18.
The Dogs will now have to dust themselves off after the defeat and prepare for a do-or-die semi-final against either New Zealand or Penrith next weekend.
The coach appeared resigned to taking on the Warriors or Panthers without his inspirational leader in his post-match press conference.
"It’s hard to know now without getting scans, but when you can’t finish a game it’s not looking great," Ciraldo said.