Canterbury Bulldog Jacob Kiraz sidelined from NRL indefinitely with back injury
Canterbury are unsure when Jacob Kiraz will return from a back injury that is set to sideline him to begin the NRL season.
The winger has not trained all pre-season after withdrawing from Australia’s preliminary squad for the Pacific Championships with the same injury last year.
Kiraz would have been a walk-up starter on one wing to face St George Illawarra in round one on March 8, with new recruit Marcelo Montoya likely on the other.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Blake Wilson appears the clearest contender to start on Kiraz’s wing as fellow replacement option Enari Tuala nurses a long-term foot injury.
Uncapped Ratu Rinakama and round-27 debutant Jonathan Sua are also options after scoring tries in the Bulldogs’ pre-season challenge win over Wests Tigers.
“Enari Tuala 10 weeks (sidelined) … Jacob Kiraz ??? We don’t really know … It’s up to Jacob really … It’s a pain tolerance situation,” Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould said on Twitter.
Kiraz has been one of the Bulldogs’ biggest success stories over the past two seasons, transforming from Newcastle reject to genuine game-breaker.
The 23-year-old played every minute of every game last season as the Bulldogs charged back into finals for the first time since 2016.
Tom Amone and Sitili Tupouniua join Montoya and Tuala as recruits for Cameron Ciraldo’s third season as coach after Josh Addo-Carr and Jeral Skelton among others left in the off-season.
