Bulldogs v Wests Tigers: Pele ruled out; Bateman set for debut
Two sides who made plenty of headlines in the off-season for their recruitment sprees go head-to-head at Belmore Sports Ground in Round 3 after both coming off vastly different performances.
The Bulldogs caused an upset win over the Storm with new recruits Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney showing their worth at AAMI Park to help give Cameron Ciraldo his first win in charge of the blue and whites.
Wests Tigers only have themselves to blame for surrendering two matches at Leichhardt Oval in the past fortnight with their expansive style of play coached by Tim Sheens in the summer clearly not working in the early stages.
An afternoon at Belmore, in front of a packed pro-Bulldogs crowd, is only going to add to the pressure on Sheens' side to turn the result around while Ciraldo's men will be looking to improve on their disappointing recent record at the venue.
Match: Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Round 3 -
home Team
Bulldogs
8th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
14th Position
Venue: Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Team news
Bulldogs: No late changes for the home side. Franklin Pele is out with Jayden Tanner coming onto the interchange. Josh Reynolds, coming back from a groin injury, remains in the reserves alongside Jackson Topine.
Wests Tigers: No changes an hour before kick-off. A huge boost for Tim Sheens' men with John Bateman called into the starting side for his club debut. He replaces Shawn Blore, who drops back to the bench. Fonua Pole (knee) returns while Adam Doueihi is named to play after a foot issue last week.
Match: Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Round 3 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Wests Tigers
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Hayze PerhamFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Charlie Staines
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob KirazWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
-
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Jake AverilloCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Brent Naden
-
Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Paul AlamotiCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-CarrWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Junior Tupou
-
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt BurtonFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Adam Doueihi
-
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Kyle FlanaganHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks
Forwards
-
Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
-
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed MahoneyHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau
-
Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Ryan SuttonProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 David Klemmer
-
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Asu Kepaoa
-
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 20 John Bateman
-
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Raymond Faitala-MarinerLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Fonua Pole
Interchange
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jayden OkunborInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 12 Shawn Blore
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Corey WaddellInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Brandon Wakeham
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Fa'amanu BrownInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Twal
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 23 Jayden TannerInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Joe Ofahengaue
Reserves
-
Replacement for Bulldogs is number 21 Josh ReynoldsReplacement for Wests Tigers is number 18 Justin Matamua
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Kasey Badger
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Bulldogs have won only one of their past nine games at Belmore.
- Wests Tigers will play at Belmore Sports Ground for the first time.
- Bulldogs centre Jake Averillo has scored four tries in his past three games against Wests Tigers.
- Prop David Klemmer is the only Tigers player who has played an NRL game at Belmore.
- Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney has scored a try in three of his past four games against the Tigers.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
