Ten Canterbury Bulldogs players miss COVID-19 ahead of Penrith Panthers game
Updated ,first published
Victor Radley looks set to be sidelined until the finals after suffering a concussion during the Roosters’ stunning 25-24 loss to Wests Tigers on Sunday.
The Roosters confirmed on Monday Radley had displayed category one symptoms after a heavy collision, which means he will need to stand down for the next 11 days.
Radley went low on Tigers forward Alex Seyfarth and wobbled back into the defensive line before referee Ashley Klein realised the seriousness of the situation and sent him for a head injury assessment.
The tackle happened in the 79th minute, just before Jock Madden kicked the match-winning field goal, meaning Radley’s condition was missed by many observers at full-time.
Fans initially feared Radley would miss Saturday’s clash with the Dolphins due to a high tackle on Patrick Herbert. He was charged by the match review committee on Monday but only fined $3000.
But the concussion will mean he misses the Dolphins clash and most likely the round-27 showdown with South Sydney on Friday week.
Given his long history of head knocks – Sunday was his eighth concussion or failed HIA in five years – Radley will now be required to gain a clearance from an independent doctor to play again.
The Roosters have adopted an ultra-conservative approach with players returning from concussions, including Lindsay Collins, who was given six weeks to recover earlier this season – a break which also cost him a chance to play for Queensland in the Origin decider.
Skipper and fullback James Tedesco is hoping to return from an ankle injury for the Allianz Stadium hit-out, which the Dolphins need to win to remain in the top four.
Radley last year said he had no plans to retire early, revealing he met with several specialists and even started playing memory games twice a day to “work” his brain.
“I’ve got no worries whatsoever with my head,” Radley said at the time.
The 28-year-old Bronte local is eager to help the Roosters win the premiership, then turn his attention to helping England win the World Cup.
Siua Wong was also charged with a careless high tackle on Jock Madden, but can also escape with a fine, while Reece Robson and Daly Cherry-Evans were not cited by the match review committee, despite being placed on report for a high tackle and trip.
Ten Dogs struck down by COVID
Dan Walsh
Ten Bulldogs NRL squad members – headlined by star back-rower Jacob Preston – were kept away from the club training on Monday as a COVID-19 outbreak threatens to derail the biggest week of Canterbury’s season.
Just five days out from Friday’s must-win clash against powerhouse Penrith, the Bulldogs trained without more than a quarter of their NRL squad (which includes top 30 and development players) after a spate of positive COVID-19 tests among their players.
Preston was the most notable absentee, while fellow forwards Josh Curran and Kurt Mann were also missing – though Mann was carrying a groin injury that was expected to rule him out of selection against the Panthers. Not all the players taken ill are first-graders.
Assistant coach Adam O’Brien was also told to stay at home after flu ripped through the club for a second straight week.
Preston’s positive COVID-19 test came after the barnstorming second-rower spent time in hospital on a drip last week due to an elbow infection, in the days leading into the 44-14 win over St George Illawarra that kept Canterbury’s season alive.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo revealed after downing the Dragons match that five players had missed training throughout the week due to COVID-19 as well.
It is unclear at this stage how the outbreak will impact Ciraldo’s team list announcement for the Panthers clash, which must be announced at 4pm on Tuesday, but the club is taking no chances and keeping any player showing symptoms away from their Belmore base.
The ninth-placed Bulldogs will have their main field session on Wednesday. Winger Enari Tuala, who was a late scratching last week with a knee injury, is expected to return against the Panthers, while Jacob Kiraz continues to push through a calf injury.
With two rounds left in the regular season, a loss to Penrith would almost certainly end Canterbury’s hopes of sneaking into the top eight given the Cowboys (eighth) and South Sydney (seventh) already sit two points ahead of them on the ladder.
Last year’s corresponding clash between the sides saw Panthers coach Ivan Cleary rest his entire first choice teams.
But with Penrith still fighting to secure a home final, Cleary will name his best line-up on Friday night before weighing up whether to do the same a week later against the Tigers in the last game of the regular season.
Jack Cole is expected to replace suspended five-eighth Jack Cogger against the Bulldogs given Blaize Talagi’s defensive frailties were exposed by Canterbury’s right edge earlier this year.
Dan Walsh is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.