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A weakened Sydney Roosters outfit managed to upset reigning premiers Penrith Panthers 38-32 on Friday in round two of the 2025 NRL season.
The result was not what the Panthers wanted as they face a grand final rematch with Melbourne this weekend.
The round began with the Newcastle Knights accounting for the Redcliffe Dolphins 26-12, followed a day later by the NZ Warriors beating Manly Sea Eagles 36-16.
On Saturday, the South Sydney Rabbitohs just edged St George-Illawarra Dragons 25-24, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks beat the North Queensland Cowboys 36-12 and the Brisbane Broncos lost 22-32 to the Canberra Raiders.
On Sunday, the Wests Tigers beat Parramatta 32-6 and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs were too good for the Gold Coast Titans 40-24.
INJURY NEWS
NRL.com.au reports that Bulldogs duo Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau are facing a month on the sidelines after both suffered knee injuries in yesterday’s (Sunday) win over the Gold Coast.
The two injuries occurred in similar circumstances, falling awkwardly in tackles, and the Bulldogs believe both players damaged their MCL.
“Both are getting scans over the next 24 hours; hopefully we know more then but it’s not looking great for them,” coach Cameron Ciraldo told the website.
“We’ve got a bye (in Round Six) so hopefully we get them both back after the bye. Both have worked extremely hard and have started the season well so it will be a shame to lose them.”
They could face up to a month out depending on the results of scans today (Monday).
Titans fullback Alofiana Khan-Pereira suffered a calf strain and will have scans. Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards will miss this week’s NRL grand final rematch after he suffered a groin strain on Friday. Scans confirmed a low-grade strain and Edwards is expected to spend two to three weeks on the sidelines.
Raiders forward Zac Hosking suffered a suspected broken hand and will meet with a specialist on Monday to determine whether surgery is required.
Scans have cleared star Manly duo Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans of serious injury.
Meanwhile, Rabbitoh Tallis Duncan (hamstring) and Cowboy Braidon Burns (hamstring) also suffered injuries in Round 2 while the Dragons lost centre Moses Suli to a rib injury.
