Canterbury fullback Connor Tracey is expected to miss at least three weeks following a serious abdominal injury—and Bulldogs boss Phil Gould has suggested his finals campaign may even be in doubt.
Tracey was sent to hospital following Sunday’s Round 21 win over Manly with the club initially fearing he had a potentially season-ending hernia.
While that has since been cleared, the Bulldogs have indicated Tracey is dealing with an issue with an abdominal artery that will require an extended break from the game and force a reshuffle to Cameron Ciraldo’s backline.
Tracey has been one of the unsung heroes for the high-flying Bulldogs in 2025 and actually played the full 80 minutes on Sunday—two line breaks and 307 run metres—before experiencing severe pain after the match.
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‘He needs three weeks of complete rest’
Speaking on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy, Phil Gould explained Tracey has been managing an abdominal strain over recent weeks and was sent to hospital for scans.
“They were worried he would need surgery,” Gould revealed.
“Apparently it’s just the artery and doesn’t need surgery, but he needs three weeks of complete rest before he can even get back into light training.”
With six rounds before the NRL finals series begins, Gould said the club is hopeful Tracey will be back.
“That’s only hopeful at the moment, it’s bad luck for Connor and bad luck for the team,” he said.
The Bulldogs play Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon in NRL Round 22.