The Bulldogs have slipped seven places on the ladder on the back of five straight defeats but they get a golden opportunity to turn their fortunes around against a Storm side missing big guns Cameron Munster and Harry Grant.
The Origin period has always provided a tough test for Craig Bellamy's side, who are also missing hard-working back-rower Trent Loiero in Maroons camp.
For Canterbury, the absence of skipper Stephen Crichton on Blues duty is offset by the return of flyer Jacob Kiraz from a knee injury.
The Bulldogs have won only one of their last 11 games against the Storm - a 26-12 victory in Round 2, 2023 - when Kiraz helped himself to two tries and 235 run metres.
Follow all the action from Round 12 of the NRL Telstra Premiership on NRL.com's live blog.
Bulldogs v Storm at Accor Stadium
Match: Bulldogs v Storm
Round 12 -
home Team
Bulldogs
14th Position
away Team
Storm
13th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Half-time: The Storm head to the sheds with a handy 18-6 lead with Moses Leo scoring a double. The game has been entertaining enough considering the conditions, with rain starting to get heavier during the half. Both teams have injury woes, with Bulldogs second rower Jacob Preston coming off early in the half with a broken forearm. Storm winger Will Warbrick joined him on the sidelines soon after.
33rd min: Youngster Gabriel Satrick from Yarrabah in Far North Queensland is on for his NRL debut for the Storm.
24th min: The Storm extend their lead with Josh King finding acres of space running onto a Hughes ball and charging in to score. Meaney slots it and it's 18-6.
21st min: Will Warbrick is off with an injury, bringing Joe Chan onto the field for Melbourne Storm.
19th min: The Bulldogs hit back through Enari Tuala who slides over in the wet after some repeat sets at Melbourne's line. A big defensive hit on Will Warbrick trying to come out of his own 20 metres is rewarded with the Bulldogs getting the ball back and they go out to the right to score. Matt Burton converts and it's 12-6 to the Storm.
13th min: Another try to Moses Leo. It comes after an unfortunate moment of play for Jacob Kiraz who is playing fullback tonight. In his attempt to prevent a 40-20 off the boot of Jahrome Hughes, he has flung the ball back into the field, only for Leo to be the only player in touching distance, scooping it up and running over to score. Meaney converts again and it's 12-0.
12th min: Injury alert - Bulldogs backrower Jacob Preston is off with an injury, bringing Harry Hayes on early. Update: Preston has a broken forearm.
4th min: First points to the Storm, with something you don't see every day in the lead up. Moses Leo shows plenty of strength to somehow power through defenders to score in the left corner - but in the lead-up to the play, prop Stefano Utoikamanu put in a kick to help set up the play. Meaney slots the conversion and it's 6-0 to the Storm.
Kick off: First use of the ball to the Bulldogs, with Sua Fa'alogo kicking off.
Storm player insight:
Clarke: 'I'm a Blue through and through'
Bulldogs player insight:
King: 'We'll have our hands full tonight'
Late Mail
Bulldogs: Some late game-day changes, with Jonathan Su'a dropping out of the squad, with Marcelo Montoya to start on the wing. Kurt Mann has been named at hooker with Bailey Hayward moving back to the bench. In earlier news, Jacob Kiraz will make his return from a knee injury at fullback after Connor Tracey was ruled out with a hamstring injury in Thursday's 24-hour update. Jethro Rinakama comes into the wing and Sean O'Sullivan is the new face on the six-man bench. Enari Tuala pushes into the centre to cover for Blues Origin rep Stephen Crichton. Back-rower Jack Underhill keeps his spot on the interchange bench after a solid 30-minute contribution on NRL debut last weekend and is joined by fellow rookie Alekolasimi Jones. The Bulldogs will celebrate their 2000th game since joining the first-grade competition in 1935.
Storm: No late game-day changes. With Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Trent Loiero on Origin duty the Storm have called in Keagan Russell-Smith at five-eighth for the second NRL game of his career while Trent Toelau starts at hooker and Cooper Clarke at lock. Alec MacDonald is back from a hamstring injury on the bench while back-up hooker Gabriel Satrick makes his NRL debut after two Pre-Season Challenge appearances and eight games in NSW Cup. No changes in the 24-hour update, Josiah Pahulu remains in the extended squad.
