Easter surprise: The shock plan to spark Bulldogs attack
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The Bulldogs are preparing to spring an Easter surprise on the Rabbitohs as they look to shake up their attack ahead of this week's Good Friday blockbuster.
A crowd exceeding 50,000 is expected for the annual clash between the two traditional powerhouses at Accor Stadium and Canterbury are desperate to rebound from last week's loss to Newcastle.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo shook things up midway through the defeat when he moved captain Stephen Crichton from centre to five-eighth in a bid to spark the side's struggling attack.
Matt Burton Try
The Bulldogs have long prided themselves on their versatility, with Ciraldo recruiting players who can play multiple positions and using it to his advantage.
While Crichton is set to be named in the centres when teams are released on Tuesday afternoon, utility Kurt Mann said fans should get used to seeing the skipper playing a roving role this season.
"We prepare for all sorts of circumstances," Mann said. "Critta's done a fair bit of five-eighth during the pre-season so it's pretty smooth when he goes in there. He's a great player and he can play multiple positions.
"It's definitely an advantage [to have players who can play multiple positions]. It's not my job to pick the team but we've got boys that can play multiple positions and they're comfortable doing it. They spend time in those positions at training, which you don't really see in the games.
"Ciro likes to move a few of the boys around in pre-season to give them the chance so if something does happen in a game, they're quite comfortable going into those roles."
Crichton's temporary shift to five-eighth delivered immediate results, with Matt Burton scoring a try after moving to the centres.
Matt Burton 2nd Try
The playmaker then returned to the halves later in the contest and scored a second try.
So unexpected was the attacking switch, even Bulldogs players weren't expecting Crichton and Burton to swap roles.
"It's something I didn't see coming," prop Max King said. "The situation was at hand and we needed to score points. It paid off and whether it happens again, I don't know.
"We've seen Burto at centre succeed, we haven't seen a whole lot of Critta at six but from training with the bloke, he's so skilful. You just want your best players on the field, so as long as they're on the field they'll do their thing."
Match: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs
Round 5 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
5th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
6th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Friday's match doubles as one of the biggest games of the regular season and shapes as an early showdown between two premiership contenders.
A record 65,305 packed into Accor Stadium to watch last year's clash and officials are hoping to crack that figure this season as anticipation builds throughout the week.
Canterbury claimed a 32-0 win in 2025 in an early indication of their top-four credentials as they took a big leap forward under Ciraldo's watch.
King scored his first try as a Bulldog in a performance that helped lay the foundation for a State of Origin debut a couple of months later.
Max King Try
A proud Christian, Easter is an important time of year for the 28-year-old and he said it's a special feeling to play in front of a big crowd on Good Friday.
"It's cool," King said. "Being able to play NRL any day of the week is special and I feel blessed that I've been given that platform in life. Good Friday is always a special day and it's cool to see the fans showing up.
"Last year would be one of my favourite games of my career, it felt like walking out to a grand final, it's such a special occasion. To get the win is a cherry on top but we've got a lot of work to do before that happens."
South Sydney have burst out of the gates this season, with David Fifita recreating his past dominance, Cody Walker pulling the strings and Latrell Mitchell starring in his shift to centre.
Canterbury enter Friday's match desperate to find their best form after an up and down start to the year.
Records tumble at Accor!
Victories over St George Illawarra and Canberra were built on the back of a staunch defensive effort, with the attack still a work in progress.
Mann concedes it has been clunky at times but is confident it won't be long before the Bulldogs are humming with ball in hand.
"It's an evolution of how we attacked last year and it's always going to be a little bit clunky to start off with," Mann said. "There's a few things that have changed so we're working really hard on it.
"We're not far off. There's just a couple of little things we've got to get better at and over the next few weeks we'll improve in that area."
