Canterbury are sweating on a further scan of Toby Sexton’s sternum ahead of their do-or-die semi-final against Penrith, after captain Stephen Crichton was officially ruled out with a syndesmosis injury.
Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould confirmed that Sexton had a “badly bruised clavicular joint” and would have a scan on Monday to “rule out a fracture”.
Via text Gould said Crichton had sustained “a low-to-moderate-grade syndesmosis” injury in the 26-18 loss to Melbourne on Friday night and would probably miss “two to four weeks”.
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Gould said he would not need surgery, which will keep him in the frame for a possible return if the Bulldogs make the grand final.
The skipper also suffered a strain of his first tarsometatarsal joint in the foot, but crucially avoided a Lisfranc injury that would have ruled him out for longer.
Fellow centre Enari Tuala is out of the finals after he suffered a fractured tibia against the Storm, Gould confirmed.
Star back-rower Viliame Kikau also left the field in the first half against the Storm before passing an HIA.
There was concern for an eye-socket injury and his face was swollen when he returned from Sydney on Saturday morning.
Gould confirmed it was a suspected eye socket fracture but that it “appears to be stable”.
The club suspects Kikau may have fractured the eye socket the previous week against Cronulla, which is why he was in so much pain when he got the knock early against the Storm.
In good news there was no concussion, just a lot of agony for the big unit.
Sexton’s injury came after he was hurt attempting to tackle a runaway Will Warbrick and remained on the ground in pain.
He was brought on off the bench when Crichton left the field, scored a try with his first touch and had a solid game after being recalled to the side.
Canterbury could consider starting Sexton, if fit, in the halves and shift Matt Burton to centre against the Panthers to cover their backline crisis.
The Bulldogs will get centre Bronson Xerri back from concussion in a major boost. Winger Marcelo Montoya (ankle) is also a chance to return after missing the Storm loss.
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