Bulldogs v Sea Eagles: Crichton on track; Turbo boost for Foz
The Bulldogs are determined to keep the momentum rolling on Saturday night when they collide with the high-flying Sea Eagles at Accor Stadium.
Canterbury secured two vital competition points when they ground out a tense victory over Parramatta before last week's bye and they are eager to kick start a charge up the ladder.
The week off gave captain Stephen Crichton a chance to rest his injured shoulder, while Jacob Kiraz has also been playing through a calf injury.
Up front, Tongan forward Sitili Tupouniua has been among the club's best and has been devastating after shifting to the edge midway through the year.
The Bulldogs will need to be at their best if they are to prevail on Saturday night against a Manly side that has emerged as a genuine premiership contender.
Kieran Foran's men outclassed the Rabbitohs in Round 14 before last week's bye and they now sit third in a congested ladder.
After missing out on NSW selection for the second match of the State of Origin series, powerful forward Haumole Olakau'atu will have a point to prove and is set to be at his damaging best.
Fullback Tom Trbojevic is also on track to return from a hamstring injury in a major boost for the Sea Eagles.
Match: Bulldogs v Sea Eagles
Round 16 -
home Team
Bulldogs
12th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
3rd Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Bulldogs: Skipper Stephen Crichton has been named to play despite a shoulder injury ruling him out of Origin Two. Kurt Mann (ear) returns at hooker so Bailey Hayward reverts to the bench alongside Jed Reardon, Jack Underhill, Josh Curran, Jethro Rinakama and potential NRL debutant Logan Spinks, who has played 29 NSW Cup games in the past three seasons and also featured in the Pre-Season Challenge in February.
Sea Eagles: A huge in for the Sea Eagles with Tom Trbojevic named to return at fullback after seven games out with a hamstring injury. Clayton Faulalo, who did an outstanding job filling in at fullback, suffered a hamstring injury in Round 14 against Souths. Blues centre Tolu Koula has been named to play on Saturday night. Ethan Bullemor returns on the interchange after missing Round 14 due to a head knock suffered at training in the lead-up to that match.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor TraceyFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob KirazWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
-
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson XerriCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen CrichtonCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Enari TualaWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
-
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt BurtonFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
-
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan GalvinHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
-
Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
-
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Kurt MannHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kobe Hetherington
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Sitili Tupouniua2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jaeman Salmon2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
-
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Harry HayesLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Bailey HaywardInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Jed ReardonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan Brown
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Jack UnderhillInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Josh CurranInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Simione Laiafi
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Jethro RinakamaInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Josh Feledy
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Logan SpinksInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Joey Walsh
Reserves
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Lipoi HopoiReserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Hugo Hart
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Alex ContiReserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Blake Wilson
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Alekolasimi JonesReserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Jackson Shereb
Bulldogs Ins
- Alekolasimi Jones
- Alex Conti
- Kurt Mann
- Logan Spinks
Sea Eagles Ins
- Blake Wilson
- Ethan Bullemor
- Hugo Hart
- Tom Trbojevic
Bulldogs Outs
- Sean O'Sullivan
Sea Eagles Ins
- Clayton Faulalo
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Bulldogs have won three of their last four games at Accor Stadium.
- The Sea Eagles have won 11 of their last 13 games against the Bulldogs.
- Bulldogs second-rower Sitili Tupouniua has scored four tries in his last five games at Accor Stadium.
- Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored 14 tries in his last 11 games against the Bulldogs.
- Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri has scored four tries in five games against the Sea Eagles.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
