Canterbury coach Dean Pay has given Bulldogs fans some good news in the wake of their 14-12 upset win over Cronulla, with Kieran Foran’s hamstring injury not as serious as originally thought.
It was a tough win from the struggling Dogs, especially after their star playmaker in Foran was forced from the field during the first half and bringing debutant Brandon Wakeham on into the halves.
Not good news for Dogs fans... Foran is leaving the field.
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) June 30, 2019
Sunday Footy | @Channel9#9WWOS #NRL #NRLBulldogsSharks pic.twitter.com/6DAAYV0gih
But the hamstring strain has been diagnosed as ‘slight’ and there is a good chance that the former Kiwis star could be right for their next game after the bye.
“It wasn’t too bad but thankfully he came off because if he stayed out there he would have made it worse,” he said.
“He’s not having too much luck getting some consistent footy. Hopefully it’s not too bad, I think its only a mild strain.
“That being said Brandon Wakeham came in and did a tremendous job for us today and he was fantastic.”
It was a whirlwind day for the Bulldogs with forward Rhyse Martin being released from his contract just hours before kickoff, opening the door for Wakeham to take a spot on the bench.
Pay commented on the departure of Martin after the win, who will take up a deal in the UK Super League in the next two-and-a-half years.
“Rhyse has taken an offer to go over to England within that June 30 timeframe, so we thought he’d still be available to play today but he wasn’t so that’s why it worked out the way it did.
“We offered him a deal earlier in the year and he decided not to take it up, and I think he’s got a two-and-a-half-year deal over there and it secures his future.
“We weren’t prepared to stand in his way.”
The Bulldogs will have the bye next week, while the Sharks will look to bounce back from the disappointing display when they take on the struggling Broncos at Shark Park next Sunday arvo.
