Ten Bulldogs miss training with COVID-19 days out from season-defining clash

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 Canterbury’s biggest week of their 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. It is likely they will have to spring an upset against Penrith and defeat Brisbane in the final round to sneak into the top eight.