The Broncos could be without Adam Reynolds for their Magic Round blockbuster against Penrith with the premiers missing second-rower Scott Sorensen.
Reynolds is hopeful of shaking off the shoulder injury he suffered early in last Thursday’s win over Canterbury before aggravating it late in the contest.
He played through a staph infection in his leg to inspire a 42-18 win over Canterbury even though he was sure earlier in the day if he would play after a dizzy spell.
But he sought treatment and hours later had one of the best games of his 295-match career to put the ladder-leading Bulldogs to the sword at Suncorp Stadium. He injured his right shoulder while scoring a first-half try and stayed down briefly before soldiering on until the 75th minute when he had to come off with a second knock after setting up three tries.
“It’s pretty sore. It sort of went dead on me when I scored the try, pins and needles, and I got it pretty bad there on that last one,” Reynolds told media post-match.
Sorensen has been banned 2-3 matches for a shoulder charge in Saturday night’s loss to Manly but teammates Dylan Edwards ($750 for tripping) and Casey McLean ($100-$1500 for a high tackle) have avoided a suspension and co-captain Isaah Yeo was not charged by the match review committee despite being placed on report for a hit on Tom Trbojevic.
A trio of Bulldogs – Josh Curran, Sitili Tupouniua and Marcelo Montoya – were banned for offences in the loss to Brisbane.
Burton was hit with a Grade 2 careless high tackle charge to earn a two-week ban that he can have downgraded to one with an early plea, while Curran received a hefty four-match sanction that can be reduced to three for his Grade 2 shoulder charge.
Tupouniua was hardest hit, copping two suspensions for his twin acts – a four-game ban that can come down to three for his shoulder charge, and a three-game sanction down to two for his high knee in Piakura.
Latrell Mitchell. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
All up, he will spend at least five weeks on the sidelines unless the Bulldogs can successfully challenge one or both of his bans.
Titans front-rower Jaimin Jolliffe is looking at a ban of 2-3 weeks for a grade-two careless high tackle on Cowboys forward John Bateman while teammate Brock Gray can avoid a suspension with a $3000 fine.
Souths star Latrell Mitchell has received another suspension for the high shot that led to him being sin-binned in South Sydney’s Anzac Day loss to the Melbourne Storm.
The grade-two dangerous contact charge equates to a two-match ban that can be reduced to one with an early plea.
Round 9 teams
All times AEST
Sharks vs Eels at Suncorp Stadium: 6pm, Friday May 2
Sharks: Second-rower Teig Wilton (shoulder) and centre Kayal Iro (hamstring) are hoping to return.
Eels: Rested after the bye, Jason Ryles is likely to retain the same 17 that took down the Tigers on Easter Monday.
Roosters vs Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium: 8.05pm, Friday May 2
Roosters: Five-eighth Sandon Smith is available after only copping a fine for his high tackle charge from the win over the Dragons.
Dolphins: Felise Kaufusi (knee) and Jeremy Marshall-King (thigh) are a chance to make a return after brief layoffs while prop Daniel Saifiti (shoulder) is unlikely to play after failing to finish Sunday’s rumble with the Raiders.
(Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
Rabbitohs vs Knights at Suncorp Stadium: 3pm, Saturday May 3
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell’s ban for a high tackle is likely to mean Jye Gray returns to fullback with Lewis Dodd set to start for the first time alongside Jayden Sullivan in the halves.
Knights: Front-rower Jacob Saifiti (calf) is an outside chance of returning while fellow prop Leo Thompson can play after he was only fined for a high shot which sent him to the sin bin in the loss to the Warriors.
Warriors vs Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium: 5.30pm, Saturday May 3
Warriors: Marata Niukore was fined for a high shot in the win over Newcastle while James Fisher-Harris (pectoral), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (arm) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) are another week or two away from returning.
Cowboys: Kiwi prop Griffin Neame ($1000-$1500 for a high shot) was fined but is free to play.
Tigers vs Dragons at Suncorp Stadium: 7.45pm, Saturday May 3
Tigers: Winger Jeral Skelton (hamstring) is a maybe.
Dragons: Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring) is still no certainty to return after missing the past fortnight.
Titans vs Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium: 1.50pm, Sunday May 4
Titans: Veteran half Kieran Foran could make his first appearance for 2025 after a pre-season pectoral injury.
Titans front-rower Jaimin Jolliffe is looking at a ban of 2-3 weeks for a grade-two careless high tackle on Cowboys forward John Bateman while teammate Brock Gray can avoid a suspension with a $3000 fine.
Bulldogs: Matt Burton, Josh Curran and Viliame Kikau are set to be suspended for various acts of foul play in the loss to Brisbane with Bailey Hayward set to replace Burton in the halves for the Magic Round clash with Gold Coast, with Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Kurtis Morrin the leading candidates to join the pack.
Josh Curran (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Panthers vs Broncos at Suncorp Stadium: 4.05pm, Sunday May 4
Panthers: Luke Garner (concussion) and Brian To’o (hamstring) are set to make comebacks but hooker Mitch Kenny has one more match to serve on his hip-drop ban.
Broncos: Adam Reynolds damaged his shoulder during his starring performance in the upset win over Canterbury but the skipper is confident it is not serious. Second-rower Jordan Riki (infection) should be right to play after missing the duel with the Dogs.
Storm vs Raiders at Suncorp Stadium: 6.25pm, Sunday May 4
Storm: Young gun Sua Fa’alogo failed his HIA in the win over Souths while Will Warbrick should be OK to play after his recent concussion layoff.
Raiders: Five-eighth Ethan Strange could be in judiciary strife after he was placed on report for a dangerous tackle during Sunday’s clash with the Dolphins with Corey Horsburgh (high contact) also in the spotlight for a hit on Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Bye – Sea Eagles
with AAP
