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Canterbury’s loss to Brisbane has been compounded by injury concerns and suspensions, led by Viliame Kikau’s setback.

Canterbury Bulldogs are facing a growing list of concerns after a heavy loss to the injury-hit Brisbane Broncos, with a suspected pectoral injury to Viliame Kikau the most pressing issue.

Kikau was forced from the field in the first half at Suncorp Stadium and did not return, with coach Cameron Ciraldo indicating the early exit was a worrying sign. Initial reports suggest the back-rower could miss between two and six weeks, pending scan results.

The Bulldogs' problems extended beyond injury, with multiple players cited by the match review committee. Harry Hayes received a one-match ban for tripping Adam Reynolds, while Matt Burton and Stephen Crichton were both fined for separate incidents.

Brisbane, despite missing a large portion of their squad, delivered a composed performance. Ben Talty and Jack Gosiewski stepped up in the forwards, while Hayze Perham impressed at fullback against his former club.

Further attacking spark came from Ezra Mam and Deine Mariner, both of whom scored, while Kotoni Staggs produced a strong defensive display. Xavier Willison capped the win with a late try in a 20-point result.

The defeat leaves Canterbury with four losses from seven matches, continuing a pattern of inconsistency that has seen them slip outside the top eight shortly after defeating ladder leaders Penrith.

Disciplinary issues were not limited to the Bulldogs. Jordan Riki received a one-match ban for a high tackle, while Mam was also fined for tripping.

Ciraldo pointed to defensive lapses as a key concern, noting that while periods of play were solid, critical individual errors continue to prove costly against quality opposition.