Preston in hospital on drip before Bulldogs game, five players with Covid

Preston spent two days in hospital receiving intravenous treatment prior to Canterbury's crucial match against St George Illawarra, while five players tested positive for coronavirus and winger Jacob Kiraz continued to play with a torn calf muscle. The Bulldogs faced multiple disruptions ahead of their must-win clash, including centre Matt Burton missing training to attend to a family matter in Dubbo and Enari Tuala being ruled out with a knee injury sustained during training. Despite these challenges, Canterbury delivered a commanding performance, defeating the Dragons 44-14 at Allianz Stadium before a crowd of 14,711. The win keeps Canterbury in contention for a finals berth, moving them within two points of South Sydney and North Queensland with two games remaining in the regular season. Their final regular-season match against Penrith will be a critical test, given the Panthers' dominance this season. However, Canterbury's victory came after a difficult week marked by setbacks, including a recent loss to South Sydney and ongoing issues with player availability. Coach Cameron Ciraldo acknowledged the difficulties his team faced, noting that several players had tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after the previous week's loss. This explained the lack of focus during training. Additionally, Preston, who has been engaged in public contract talks with the club, required hospitalization due to an elbow injection. Ciraldo revealed that Preston had been away for a few days, adding to the list of challenges facing the team. Ciraldo also disclosed that Kiraz had been playing with a torn calf muscle for three weeks, a revelation that added to the complexity of the team's situation. Meanwhile, Burton adjusted positions, switching from left to right centre to accommodate the return of Bronson Xerri, who had missed training due to his family commitment. Alongside Preston, Burton stood out with two tries and strong defensive efforts. Ciraldo believed the move helped balance the team, particularly with Burton eager to face Val Holmes in a competitive matchup between two Origin representatives. Xerri made a notable impact in his first start in six weeks, scoring a try and demonstrating his value to Canterbury before heading to Melbourne next season. Halfback Lachlan Galvin contributed significantly with a try and two assists, while Jaeman Salmon and Bailey Hayward were among the other key performers. Fullback Connor Tracey received praise from Ciraldo for what he described as his best game of the year. With Tuala expected to return next week, the primary concerns for Canterbury heading into their upcoming match against Penrith included Salmon being reported twice and a groin injury that sidelined utility player Kurt Mann in the second half. Despite being reduced to 12 men on two occasions, Canterbury remained dominant throughout the match. Dean Young's Dragons showed improvement beyond the scoreline, but errors ultimately cost them the game. Hooker Jacob Liddle suffered a suspected torn calf, raising initial concerns about a possible Achilles rupture. However, medical assessments indicated the injury was likely limited to the calf. Departing captain Damien Cook expressed relief, stating he hoped the injury was confined to the calf, as Liddle's experience would be valuable to the team.