The Bulldogs' premiership defence was on life support with teenage superstar Sonny Bill Williams poised to miss up to two months of rugby league.

Williams received the results of scans on his right ankle and the news wasn't good - tears to the anterior tibio-fibular and lateral ligaments.

The 19-year-old, who is also suffering from a suspected case of the mumps, will be on crutches for two weeks before the injury is re-assessed.

It's the second time in as many years Williams has suffered serious damage to his right ankle.

However, club officials and Williams' manager Gavin Orr were quick to play down any long-term concerns.

"It fully recovered after the last injury and he played a substantial number of games since then without having a problem with it," Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad said.

"I'm sure it will heal."

Bulldogs doctor Hugh Hazard also dismissed talk of Williams suffering from a recidivous injury while Orr said the Kiwi international was taking things in his stride.

"It's just an injury," Orr said.

"He said `I'm going to get a lot of them in my career'. (Last year's injury) taught him a valuable lesson not to push things."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP