The Canterbury Bulldogs have suffered another injury blow for the opening match of the season against the St George Illawarra Dragons, with a new recruit still on the sidelines with an injury.
After it was confirmed on Tuesday that outside backs Enari Tuala and Jacob Kiraz will miss the start of the 2025 NRL season, the Bulldogs' injury woes have continued.
In what is another injury blow for the club, Phil Gould has revealed that recruit Sitili Tupouniua will still be out for a month and will hopefully be available for Round 2.
This means he will miss the team's opening match of the season against the St George Illawarra Dragons.
"Sitili has been in rehab for about a month with an injury...He won't play in trials...Hopefully available for Round 2," Gould wrote onย X (formerly known as Twitter).
After seven seasons and 106 matches with the Sydney Roosters, 2025 will mark Tupouniua's first at Belmore after signing a four-year contract with them until the end of the 2028 NRL season.
A three-time Tongan international, Tupouniua attracted the interest of the Manly Sea Eagles, Newcastle Knights and The Dolphins before agreeing to terms with the Bulldogs and is likely to come off the interchange bench when he is available and push his case for a spot in the starting team.
Projected Round 1 Team: 1.ย Connor Tracey 2. Marcelo Montoyaย 3.ย Bronson Xerriย 4.ย Stephen Crichtonย 5.ย Blake Wilsonย 6.ย Matt Burtonย 7.ย Toby Sextonย 8.ย Max Kingย 9.ย Reed Mahoneyย 10.ย Samuel Hughesย 11.ย Viliame Kikauย 12.ย Jacob Prestonย 13.ย Kurt Mannย 14.ย Bailey Hayward 15. Jaeman Salmonย 16.ย Tom Amoneย 17.ย Josh Curran
