Dogs cop cruel injury blow as star sidelined for finals

The Canterbury Bulldogs have been dealt a cruel blow just two weeks out from the finals with star fullback Jacob Kiraz set to be sidelined for at least a month.

Kiraz was assisted by trainers off the field with just under 13 minutes left in his side's 28-4 win over the Panthers after he went down with an ankle injury.

It was a troubling sight for the Bulldogs as he appeared to struggle to place weight on his foot, with initial fears he may have suffered a suspected syndesmosis injury.

READ MORE: Baffling captain call stuns after huge All-Australian snub

READ MORE: 'Oh my word!': Aussie pipped by .03 after 'strange' collapse

READ MORE: How the AFL saved the rock bottom Suns and built a monster

Kiraz underwent scans on Friday morning which confirmed he had suffered a mild foot sprain and multiple small bony fractures in his left foot.

Recovery for such an injury typically takes up to a month, meaning Kiraz will not be fit to return until the third week of finals - if the Bulldogs progress to that point. 

"It's a bit swollen in there, so it doesn't look great," coach Cameron Ciraldo said of Kiraz's injury post-match on Thursday.

It is not the first time this season the Bulldogs have been without Kiraz after he spent time on the sidelines due to a back injury at the start of the year.

Ciraldo confirmed that the club is not short of options to replace Kiraz over the coming weeks, with Enari Tuala and Jethro Rinakama the likely contenders. 

Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.

While Friday brought bad news for Kiraz it was kinder to Bulldogs star Kurt Mann, who escaped with a fine after being placed on report for a high tackle moments before being helped from the field due to a head knock.

Late in the first half, the 32-year-old was forced from the field after reeling out of contact from Paul Alamoti.

Mann immediately dropped to the floor and clutched at his face, with Canterbury trainer Travis Touma rushing to his side in the middle of Accor Stadium.

"Mann has come out the back of this poorly, that's a big collision," lead caller Mat Thompson said on the Nine broadcast.

While he was being attended to, referee Wyatt Raymond informed skipper Stephen Crichton that Mann was being penalised and placed on report for the previous tackle.

"He's on report and he's been knocked senseless in the next tackle," Thompson said.

The tough utility eventually got to his feet with blood coming out of his nose and left the field with the assistance of Canterbury staff.

The match review committee on Friday confirmed he would be required to pay a $1000 fine for a grade one offence if he enters an early plea. He would face a fine of $1500 if he fights the charge and loses at the judiciary.

Earlier in that same half, teammate Jacob Preston was also placed on report for a trip. He was slapped with an $1800 fine for the incident, also escaping a ban. 

The hosts took a 10-0 lead into the break against a Penrith side that was without the majority of their front-line players as Ivan Cleary rests his stars before the finals.

Perhaps surprisingly, Mann was cleared to return to the field in the second half, but he did have plenty of swelling around his face and nose from the Alamoti collision.

After losing starting hooker Luke Sommerton to a head knock in the first half, Penrith's Soni Luke was then forced from the field for the same reason in the 47th minute.

The hosts extended their lead when Preston crossed for his second try of the night, before Matt Burton joined the party to make it a 22-point margin.

Last year's grand final hero Alamoti gave the Panthers fans something to cheer about when he scored out wide in the 57th minute.

The talented speedster, who has fallen out of favour this season due to the rise of cult hero Tom Jenkins, latched onto a pass from Daine Laurie.

Preston made it a hat-trick for the night with 13 minutes to go in what saw Canterbury lock themselves into a top-four spot.