Connor Tracey, the newest addition to the Canterbury Bulldogs, has an ankle injury that is allegedly worse than initially believed.
The utility player was thought to have damaged his ankle around the time he signed with the Bulldogs. He surprised everyone last week by surprising himself by joining the Bulldogs and their roster of incoming players for 2024.
However, it has now been revealed that the ankle injury will not only hinder his pre-season but also keep him out of action for a significant portion of 2024’s early going. Journalist Michelle Bishop told SEN Radio that the ankle injury is a “bad roll” and that it is unlikely the utility will be available before Round 6.
According to Bishop, “Connor Tracey had a bit of an accident at training” (SEN 1170 The Run Home).
“He rolled his ankle 24 hours before he actually completed the deal and signed the new contract at the Bulldogs.”
“It was not simply a mediocre roll; it was an extremely poor roll, and he will be replaced.
“He’ll undoubtedly miss the first five or six weeks of the upcoming season
“(He) is severely limited in his preseason activities, which is unfortunate for rugby league players.”
With the confirmation of the player swap on Thursday, which would see youngster Michael Gabrael return to the Shire, Tracey was expected to be involved in a crowded competition for a backline Bulldogs shirt.
Though it seems unlikely given that Belmore recruited Stephen Crichton on a large contract to play fullback after he left the Penrith Panthers for what seems to be the same reason, he is rumored to want to play the position.
Tracey’s injury will now set him back even further, as the utility player will miss a significant amount of training and the first few games of the season before he can possibly force his way back into Belmore’s squad under Cameron
