LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Canterbury Bulldogs forward stocks have taken a hit as Samuel Hughes is facing an extended period on the sidelines due to an ankle syndesmosis injury.
Hughes, who played 25 games last season, has already undergone surgery and will be out for at least six weeks, leaving a significant gap in the team's forward pack.
This injury comes after Hughes was forced to sit out of last week's game against the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Bulldogs GM of Football Phil Gould expressed his disappointment, saying, "Sam was fighting to get ready for game one.
He injured his ankle against the Broncos in the second trial, came back a grade one syndesmosis, which is usually two to three weeks." Hughes' absence has led to the recruitment of Daniel Suluka-Fifita as a replacement, highlighting the team's efforts to fill the void left by the injured forward.
Despite the setback, the Bulldogs are hoping for Hughes to make a full recovery and return to the field later in the season.
The 24-year-old forward had established himself in the team's lineup after progressing through the Parramatta Eels' pathways system, demonstrating his importance to the Bulldogs' forward pack.
The news of Hughes' injury underscores the challenges that the Bulldogs will face in the coming weeks as they strive to maintain their competitiveness in the NRL.
As the team deals with the absence of a key player, they will need to adapt and rely on the depth of their squad to overcome this setback and continue their season on a positive note.