NRL suspensions and injuries: Star duo Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau suffer MCL injuries; Penrith’s devastating Dylan Edwards blow

Canterbury are set to be without two of their biggest stars for “at least four weeks”, while Penrith could be without Dylan Edwards for four weeks. Latest injury and suspension news.

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Cameron Ciraldo looks set to name a new-look left edge in next week’s western Sydney derby against Parramatta after Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau suffered knee injuries on Sunday.

Both Burton and Kikau went down with MCL injuries in the win against the Titans, with both players now set to spend up to four weeks on the sidelines.

Kikau and Burton, who was spotted in a knee brace during the win against the Titans, will be sent for scans on Monday to assess the full extent of the medial injuries.

Matt Burton off with a suspected MCL injury - mechanism fairly textbook with contact dragging his body back over trapped leg stressing medial knee.

Considering traumatic mechanism + quick rule out, worry for moderate to high grade MCL sprain - would be 1-2 months if confirmed. pic.twitter.com/BzqbVOjGi0

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 16, 2025

Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould tweeted that both players has suffered grade two MCL injuries and would be out for at least a month.

“I just checked Gus’ Twitter and they’re both getting scans in the next 24 hours, so hopefully we’ll know more then,” Cameron Ciraldo said, with Crichton a chance to move to the halves next week.

Cantebury's Matt Burton after his injury.

“It’s not looking great for them. We’ve got a bye around then, so hopefully we can get both of them back around then.”

Burton’s injury puts forgotten playmaker Drew Hutchison in line for an NRL re-call.

Crafty lock forward Kurt Mann replaced Burton when he left the field on Sunday night and will be in the running to start in the no.6 jumper in Burton’s absence.

Hutchison and rookie halfback Joseph O’Neill led the Bulldogs to a strong victory against North Sydney Bears in NSW Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Jaeman Salmon and Bailey Hayward are also options for Ciraldo.

Viliame Kikau was forced from the field late in the game. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

RAIDERS’ HOSKING BLOW

- Phil Rothfield

Canberra have suffered a major injury blow after Saturday night’s boilover win over the Broncos.

Lock Zac Hosking suffered a broken hand and will be sidelined for four to six weeks. He suffered the injury in the first half but courageously continued, refusing to leave the field.

“It’s so typical of Zac’s toughness,” said coach Ricky Stuart.

Hosking was one of Canberra’s best players in the middle, more than holding his own against Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan.

Zac Hosking bravely played on with a broken hand. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

PANTHERS BLOW, STORM SWEATS ON NAS

- Dean Ritchie

The NRL’s massive grand final replay will be robbed of size and firepower with Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards ruled out with injury and returning Storm giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona likely to be suspended again.

The absence of NSW State of Origin Edwards and likely ban for Asofa-Solomona, who stands 200cms and weighs 115kgs, will take the edge off Thursday night’s blockbuster at AAMI Park.

It is the first time the two glamour clubs have met since Penrith defeated Melbourne 14-6 in last year’s NRL grand final.

Two days after Penrith’s shock loss to Sydney Roosters on Friday night, medical scans revealed Edwards has a grade one groin strain with club officials predicting he will be out for between two to four matches.

Edwards, who received the results of scans on Sunday, was forced from the field when clearly hampered by the injury against the Roosters.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary will name a replacement on Tuesday afternoon although Daine Laurie would appear favourite to replace Edwards.

After playing Melbourne, Penrith plays Souths at Accor Stadium before returning to their new home at CommBank Stadium to host the Cowboys before travelling to Brisbane to meet the Dolphins.

Asofa-Solomona, playing prop in jumper 18, was placed on report for a hip drop tackle while playing for Sunshine Coast Falcons in a Queensland Cup match on Saturday.

The Queensland Cup match review is due to release its charge sheet on Monday morning.

Asofa-Solomona was due back from an NRL suspension, imposed late last season, in round two but didn’t play because Melbourne had the bye.

He was granted approval to play a Queensland Cup match against PNG Hunters at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

PNG players immediately protested to referee Ben Watts after watching the tackle.

The Falcons, through advice from Melbourne, may opt to fight the hip drop charge although the tackle did look ugly.

MANLY’S TURBO BOOST

Manly star Tom Trbojevic has been cleared of extensive hamstring damage and will be named to play Canberra this Sunday – but he isn’t guaranteed to play.

Trbojevic and Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans (back disc) came off late in Friday night’s upset loss to the Warriors in Auckland.

Scans results for both players were positive but Manly’s medical staff want to monitor Trbojevic’s hamstring tightness as the week progresses.

While desperately wanting Trbojevic to play the Raiders, Manly won’t take any risks should the champion fullback still complain of tightness.

Trbojevic’s selection will be pivotal given red-hot Canberra remains unbeaten this season after two rounds.

Cherry-Evans and Trbojevic will definitely be named in the Manly side to be announced at 4pm on Tuesday.

Tom Trbojevic has received a positive boost from his scan results. Picture: NRL Photos

“We need to be mindful of ‘Turbo’ if it (the hamstring) is tight. If it’s still tight then we will make a decision at the back-end of the week,” said Manly coach Anthony Seibold.

“Tom had general tightness but he got a good scan, it was clear. The good news was there was no tear. We will treat it systematically, which is to alleviate the tightness.

“‘Chez’ also got a good scan, there was nothing sinister there with the back scan.

“Overall, it’s good news for us. They both didn’t finish the game when the last 15 minutes was still a contest.”

Daly Cherry-Evans is assisted from the field. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Should Trbojevic withdraw, Seibold could switch Lehi Hopoate from wing to fullback.

That means Clayton Faulalo could play wing with the expected return of centre Tolu Koula from a thigh injury.

Manly prop Siosiua Taukeiaho is due back for the Canberra game from a knee injury.

After a sparkling first round win over North Queensland, Manly lost 36-16 to the Warriors and now confront Canberra at 4 Pines Park this Sunday at 6.15pm.

Dylan Edwards came off after suffering a groin injury.

Stayed on for almost 20 minutes after he initially appeared to hurt it, then struggled heavily on a turn & chase so had to come off. Can play through some minor groin issues - though often impacts performance (speed/agility) pic.twitter.com/TADOjUrLtD

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 14, 2025

Panthers and NSW fullback Dylan Edwards was due to have scans after injuring his groin against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.

Edwards was forced from the field when clearly hampered by the injury and remains in doubt for Thursday night’s big game against Melbourne at AAMI Park.

After the game, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said: “He (Edwards) just had a bit of a groin strain.

“He could have kept playing but just the way the game was and what we needed at the time, we had a fresh fullback sitting on the bench … that is why we made that call.”

South Sydney’s Tallis Duncan and North Queensland’s Braidon Burns also sustained hamstring injuries over round two.

St George Illawarra centre Moses Suli came off during his side’s loss to Souths on Saturday with a rib injury.

SOUTHS FORWARD HIT WITH SUSPENSION

South Sydney have copped another blow to the forward pack with lock Lachlan Hubner to miss the next fortnight for a crusher tackle on Clint Gutherson.

The contact went unnoticed by match officials two minutes into Saturday’s 25-24 win over St George Illawarra, but the 25-year-old has been charged with a grade two offence by the NRL’s match review committee. Gutherson clutched the back of his head after the contact but otherwise appeared fine.

Hubner has played just two games for the club and come into the starting Souths side as a replacement for the injured Cameron Murray.

Lachlan Hubner has been charged by the NRL match review committee. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

He’s helped the side to an unbeaten start to the year over the Dolphins and Dragons but will miss a crucial next fortnight against Cronulla and Penrith.

He risks a third match if they fight the charge at judiciary on Tuesday night and lose.

Meanwhile, Dragons winger Valentine Holmes has avoided a suspension for dangerous contact on Jai Arrow, instead copping a $1000 fine for a grade one charge.

Cowboys pair Reuben Cotter (dangerous throw) and Harrison Edwards (dangerous contact) have each been whacked with a $1000 fine, as has Brisbane’s Cory Paix for a grade one dangerous throw in Sunday’s shock loss to Canberra.

Kobe Hetherington has narrowly avoided a suspension for a crusher tackle on Zac Hosking, but has been fined $3000 for the grade one offence.He risks a two-game ban if he pleads his case with the judiciary.

Lachlan Hubner crusher tackle on Clint Gutherson.

YOUNG ROOSTER CHARGED BY MRC

The Roosters forward stocks are likely to be further tested with rookie forward Salesi Foketi charged by the NRL match review committee on Saturday.

Foketi has been slapped with a grade two careless high tackle charge for his high shot on Penrith’s Scott Sorensen on Friday night.

Foketi faces a two match ban with an early guilty-plea.

KNIGHTS’ FORWARDS DEPTH DECIMATED

Newcastle could be without their starting props for the clash against the Titans with Leo Thompson already ruled out of the game.

Thompson is expected to miss an extended period after he sustained a knee injury during the Knights’ win against the Dolphins on Thursday night. Thompson suffered a medial injury which could see him miss a month of action.

Newcastle's Leo Thompson is facing up to a month on the sidelines.

The news is better for Jacob Saifiti despite Thompson’s front-row partner being unable to finish the game. Saifiti suffered a bad cork but is a chance to take to the field against the Titans.

The Knights will already be without Kai Pearce-Paul (see below) so their forward depth is already tested. Brodie Jones will come into the 17 but the rest of the spots are wide open.

Kai Pearce-Paul is sent to the sin bin for a shoulder charge against the Dolphins.

Knights backrower Kai Pearce-Paul is facing a two-game suspension for his shoulder charge on Dolphins forward Daniel Saifiti.

The Newcastle backrower was sin-binned for the heavy contact which has raised the ire of the NRL match review committee.

Pearce-Paul has been slugged with a grade two shoulder charge and will miss two matches if he takes the early guilty plea.

Originally published as NRL suspensions and injuries: Star duo Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau suffer MCL injuries; Penrith’s devastating Dylan Edwards blow