NRL judiciary: Canterbury Bulldogs Sitili Tupouniua, Matt Burton, Josh Curran face 13 weeks in suspensions

The Bulldogs’ first loss of the NRL season has come at a heavy cost with three stars facing a combined three months on the sidelines following a night of ill-discipline.

Canterbury’s dream start to the season has been immediately soured by a Suncorp Stadium horror showing which has resulted in three players facing 13-week combined ban.

Back-rower Sitili Tupouniua has been charged twice and is facing seven weeks on the sidelines following Canterbury’s 42-18 loss to Brisbane.

Teammates Josh Curran and Matt Burton are also facing bans for their indiscretions. The most severe sanction is against Tupouniua who has already been suspended this year. He was hit with two charges both on Brendan Piakura on either side of half-time. The first a 34th minute shoulder charge which was a grade two offence. With an early guilty plea he will miss three matches but if he fights the charge and losses he will be sidelined for a month.

The second was a knee to the head of Piakura in the 51st minute which in possession which resulted in a two game ban with an early guilty plea or a maximum of three games.

Curran will miss three games for his own grade two shoulder charge on Payne Haas or four games if he fights the charge and losses.

Burton has a one game ban hanging over his head for a grade two careless high tackle charge. He could be suspended for two games if he is unsuccessful in fighting the charge.

The impending bans will force changes to Cameron Ciraldo’s team ahead of their Magic Round clash against the Des Hasler coached Titans.

If Burton accepts his one-week ban, Bailey Hayward would be recalled into the halves to partner Toby Sexton, as was the case during Burton’s most recent stint on the sideline due to a knee injury.

Lipoi Hopoi and Daniel Suluka-Fifita will come into contention to replace the suspended forwards.

This actually could have been a send off. Sin bin at very least. The NRL has completely lost the plot with the bunker pic.twitter.com/ILS4fDLiZH

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) April 24, 2025

Tupouniua and Curran were sin-binned for their first-half tackles. Somehow Tupouniua was not binned for a second time for raising his knee while in possession.

Winger Marcelo Montoya was sin-binned for a high tackle and placed on report twice but he was not charged.

The Bulldogs’ 6-0 unbeaten run to start the season came to a crashing halt against the Broncos on Friday night. The NRL’s best defensive side trailed 34-0 after just 33 minutes as discipline and desire went out the window.

Following Magic Round, the Bulldogs play the Raiders in Canberra.

They then return home for back-to-back games against the Sydney Roosters and Dolphins before a bye after State of Origin I.

YOU CAN’T HAVE THAT

Referee Gerard Sutton spotted Tupouniua’s act and immediately awarded the Broncos a penalty and put Tupouniua on report. After reviewing the incident the video match official informed Sutton that the incident warranted no further action.

That call boggled the mind of some fans.

Phil Rothfield posted on X: “How the f*** is Tupouniua not in the sin bin. Kneed a bloke in the head.

He went on to write: “This actually could have been a send off. Sin bin at very least. The NRL has completely lost the plot with the bunker.”

Roosters legend Brad Fittler said on Nine: “You can’t have that”.

Bulldogs cult hero Michael Ennis also said Tupouniua was “lucky to stay on the field”.

Originally published as NRL judiciary: Canterbury Bulldogs Sitili Tupouniua, Matt Burton, Josh Curran face 13 weeks in suspensions