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Kiraz injured as disjointed Bulldogs lock up top four finish
Sam Kosack • August 29th, 2025 12:01 am
Jacob Kiraz has limped from the field with a suspected syndesmosis injury in the Bulldogs 28-4 victory in a massive blow to their premiership chances.
With 10 minutes remaining, Kiraz landed on his ankle after catching a bomb and was immediately unable to put weight on his injured foot.
Kiraz has been a standout for the Bulldogs this season and was topping the run metres at the time of his injury with his runs out of yardage crucial to his team’s chances at winning.
Should it be confirmed as a syndesmosis injury, the recovery time of 6-12 weeks would end his season and finals campaign.
It spoiled a successful night in which the Bulldogs secured their first top four finish since 2012.
The Panthers had controversially rested 16 players from last week’s ‘Miracle in Mudgee’, with Brad Schneider the only player to take the field having not got on against the Raiders.
Instead, Penrith’s reserve grade side took to the field against the Bulldogs, with five players making their NRL debut, including Jaxen Edgar, who started the match as 18th man but came on for the final six minutes after Luke Sommerton and Sione Fonua failed to finish the match.
The Bulldogs’ attack was clunky and disjointed at times, but second rower Jacob Preston tormented the Panthers’ cubs, scoring his first-career hat-trick, linking up with Lachlan Galvin on multiple occasions.
Speaking to SEN League after the match, Preston thinks the Bulldogs’ attack still needed work approaching finals.
“Obviously it's pretty nice, but I know that we've got to be a whole lot better tonight… we weren’t as good as we wanted to be tonight,” Preston said post-game.
“The focus was all about us, making sure we go out and play our game and getting our job done.
“I think we were a bit scrappy tonight, to be honest. We made it hard on ourselves at times.
“I think we've got to be a little bit more patient with the ball and back our systems.
“I think it's mostly to do with the attack, being patient, it's still a work in progress, but I'm sure we'll get it in time for finals.”
The Bulldogs play the Sharks next week, with Preston indicating he doesn’t expect to be rested for the match, while it is unclear if the Panthers’ stars will return to face the Dragons to finish the regular season.
