Raiders v Bulldogs: Papalii returns to the pack; Tuala set for centre
Round 1 winners the Bulldogs will travel to Canberra to take on a Raiders side looking to bounce back following a disappointing showing in New Zealand.
After stealing a golden point win with an Ethan Sanders field goal in their opening game, Ricky Stuart’s men were thoroughly outplayed 40-6 by a undermanned Warriors outfit.
At home for the first time this weekend, the Raiders will be hoping to show their fans more of the steel that saw them claim the minor premiership last year.
Fresh off the bye following their great escape in Las Vegas against the Dragons, the Bulldogs will be hoping to set a positive tone early in the match and learn from their lapses in Round 1.
In that game, skipper Stephen Crichton stood up with a golden point field goal to get the team off to a winning start, but against a fire-up Raiders, the Dogs will need to be on their game throughout.
Match: Raiders v Bulldogs
Round 3 -
home Team
Raiders
11th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
6th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Raiders: Representative prop Josh Papalii returns after being sidelined with concussion and will slot straight in to start in the front row. Morgan Smithies moves to the interchange bench, while Matthew Timoko shuffles down to 19th player.
Bulldogs: Enari Tuala comes in for his first appearance of 2026, slotting in at centre with Bronson Xerri omitted. Tuala's elevation to the starting side brings in off-season recruit Sean O'Sullivan to the extended bench as the 19th player. No other changes from the side that got the job done in a close contest against the Dragons in Las Vegas.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo WeekesFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor Tracey
-
Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio TamaleWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
-
Centre for Raiders is number 3 Simi SasagiCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Enari Tuala
-
Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian KrisCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen Crichton
-
Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier SavageWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
-
Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan StrangeFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
-
Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Ethan SandersHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan Galvin
Forwards
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Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh PapaliiProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
-
Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom StarlingHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Bailey Hayward
-
Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph TapineProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Samuel Hughes
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau
-
2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Noah Martin2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
-
Lock for Raiders is number 13 Corey HorsburghLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Jaeman Salmon
Interchange
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Jayden BraileyInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt Mann
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Zac HoskingInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Sitili Tupouniua
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Ata MariotaInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Harry Hayes
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Morgan SmithiesInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Josh Curran
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Daine LaurieInterchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Sean O'Sullivan
-
Interchange for Raiders is number 19 Matthew TimokoInterchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Jake Turpin
Reserves
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Owen PattieReserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Jonathan Sua
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Joe RoddyReserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Lipoi Hopoi
-
Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Jed StuartReserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Fletcher Baker
Raiders Ins
- Jed Stuart
- Josh Papalii
- Owen Pattie
Bulldogs Ins
- Fletcher Baker
- Jonathan Sua
- Lipoi Hopoi
- Sean O'Sullivan
Raiders Outs
Bulldogs Ins
- Bronson Xerri
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Raiders have won five of their past six games against the Bulldogs at GIO Stadium.
- Bulldogs second-rower Jacob Preston has scored five tries in his past five games.
- Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored seven tries in his last seven games at GIO Stadium.
- Bulldogs centre Stephen Crichton has scored 10 tries in eight games against the Raiders.
- Ricky Stuart will achieve the milestone of 300 games as Raiders coach.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
