Inside Bulldogs camp: Update on injured star Jacob Kiraz; Sitili Tupouniua edges closer to a Round 1 start

New Bulldogs recruit Sitili Tupouniua is edging closer to a Round 1 return from a hamstring injury, while Jacob Kiraz is back at training in a huge boost for Canterbury. WATCH THE VIDEO

Jacob Kiraz could return earlier than expected. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

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Jacob Kiraz is aiming for a return to the field in the early rounds of the competition after a hip injury threatened to keep the Canterbury star sidelined long term.

It comes as new recruit Sitili Tupouniua firms for the Round 1 blockbuster against St George Illawarra on Saturday at Netstrata Jubilee Oval.

Tupouniua has spent February rehabbing what is believed to be a hamstring injury.

But the former Sydney Roosters back rower has been training alongside his Canterbury teammates and ran freely with the full squad during a skills session on Monday.

Initially Tupouniua was considered unlikely for the season opener against the Dragons but is now expected to be available for selection.

Coach Cameron Ciraldo could still opt to put Tupouniua on ice this week and roll out the 27-year-old for next Sunday’s clash against the Gold Coast Titans at Belmore Oval.

If Tupouniua is named he is likely to come off the bench with Jacob Preston and Viliame Kikau to start in the back row.

There is also a view that Tupouniua could be used as part of Ciraldo’s front row rotation. Josh Curran’s one-match suspension also opens up a spot on the bench with forwards Kurtis Morrin, Tom Amone and Daniel Suluka-Fifita in the running for selection.

Kiraz was ruled out for Round 1 after it was revealed the star winger had been on a modified program all pre-season as he battled to overcome a hip injury.

There were initial fears Kiraz was struggling with the same back injury, a stress fracture to his lumbar spine, suffered in 2023 and could be sidelined indefinitely this season.

The hip injury was described as a “pain tolerance issue” by Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould last month.

Sitili Tupouniua. Picture: Damian Shaw

But it’s understood Kiraz has returned to team training and is hopeful of returning to the field in the next few weeks.

Blake Wilson will replace Kiraz on the wing against the Dragons, while Marcelo Montoya will start in the wing spot vacated by flyer Josh Addo-Carr.

But Ciraldo also has options in boom rookies Jonathan Sua and Jethro Rinakama, who’s rise through the ranks at Belmore has been rewarded with a contract extension until the end of 2027.

Rookie Mitchell Woods, who is viewed as Ciraldo’s future halfback, has also been on a modified training program after suffering a hamstring injury in January.

Woods went through some passing and running drills separate to the main playing group at Belmore Oval on Monday.

Originally published as Inside Bulldogs camp: Update on injured star Jacob Kiraz; Sitili Tupouniua edges closer to a Round 1 start