Canterbury Bulldogs forward Jacob Preston played through the pain of a broken jaw in loss to South Sydney Rabbitohs
Canterbury forward Jacob Preston bravely returned to the field with a broken jaw during his side’s Good Friday loss to South Sydney, an injury that will result in a stint on the sidelines.
Preston suffered the blow attempting to tackle Shaquai Mitchell in the 46th minute, where his face collided with the Rabbitohs forward’s shoulder. Preston, awarded the Dr George Peponis Medal as the Bulldogs best player for the 2023 season, lay motionless on the field for some time while assessed by medical staff.
The 22-year-old eventually came off for a head-injury assessment, where he was cleared of concussion. He then returned to the fray, playing on despite suffering a hairline fracture.
Preston went for scans on Saturday morning, which confirmed the damage. He is likely to be sidelined for at least three weeks. It is a bitter blow for a club that will also be without Josh Addo-Carr for Friday night’s clash with the Roosters after a concussion suffered right on half-time prematurely ended his involvement.
The Bulldogs didn’t receive a penalty from the tackle that caused the damage, in which good friend Latrell Mitchell accidently collected “The Foxx” with his hip. However, the match review committee on Saturday charged Mitchell with dangerous contact.
The Souths fullback won’t miss any game time for the incident – the grade-one offence carries an $1800 fine with an early guilty plea, increasing to $2500 should he fight the charge and lose.
Bulldogs forward Jacob Preston leaves the field on Monday.Credit: NRL Photos
Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo also faces the prospect of being without Kurtis Morrin, who is facing a two-game ban with an early guilty plea for a grade-two dangerous throw. Should Morrin unsuccessfully contest the 51st minute tackle on Cameron Murray, he will be suspended for three games.
The match review committee chose not to charge Jack Wighton for an alleged hip-drop tackle on Preston later in the game. Bulldogs fullback Blake Taafe is facing a $1000 fine for a grade-one dangerous contact charge should he enter an early guilty plea.
