NRL Round 2 injury update: Key players ruled out

The NRL’s second round has left a trail of carnage, with several key stars set to miss crucial game time after a bruising weekend of footy.

The Canterbury Bulldogs will be without playmakers Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau for at least a month after both suffered knee injuries in Sunday’s victory over the Gold Coast Titans.

Bulldogs GM Phil Gould confirmed Kikau’s injury appears more serious, with both players set for scans to determine the full extent of the damage.

The Titans also took a hit, with electric winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira straining his calf during the loss.

Meanwhile, the reigning premiers, the Penrith Panthers have suffered a blow ahead of their grand final rematch, with fullback Dylan Edwards ruled out for up to three weeks due to a groin strain sustained in Friday’s defeat to the Roosters.

Panthers are major outsiders to take out Melbourne Storm, who just came off a bye, with top rugby league bookmakers opeining them at $3.34 for the grand final rematch.

Canberra’s hard-fought win over Brisbane was soured by the loss of forward Zac Hosking, who is nursing a suspected broken hand, while Manly’s Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans have avoided serious damage after leaving the field with hamstring and back issues respectively.

Elsewhere, injuries have struck the Cowboys, Dragons, Rabbitohs, and Sharks, with multiple players facing extended stints on the sidelines.

With Round 3 looming, clubs will be scrambling to shuffle their squads as the injury toll continues to rise early in the 2025 season.

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