Matt Attard previews the final match of Round 9 when the St George-Illawarra Dragons face Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Jubilee Stadium.
Embed from Getty ImagesTEAM NEWS
Venue: Jubilee Stadium, Date: 9/5, Time: 4:05pm
Dragons Team
1. Matthew Dufty
2. Cody Ramsey
3. Jack Bird
4. Tyrell Fuimaono
5. Max Feagai
6. Corey Norman
7. Ben Hunt
8. Blake Lawrie
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Paul Vaughan
11. Josh Kerr
12. Tariq Sims
13. Josh McGuire
14. Poasa Faamausili
15. Billy Burns
16. Daniel Alvaro
17. Kaide Ellis
18. Jackson Ford
19. Junior Amone
20. Mathew Feagai
21. Adam Clune
Team Changes
IN: Adam Clune, Jackson Ford, Mathew Feagai, Poasa Faamausili
OUT: Zac Lomax
Bulldogs Team
1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
2. Nick Cotric
3. Will Hopoate
4. Corey Allan
5. Nick Meaney
6. Jake Averillo
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Dylan Napa
9. Sione Katoa
10. Luke Thompson
11. Adam Elliott
12. Chris Smith
13. Corey Waddell
14. Bradley Deitz
15. Renouf Atoni
16. Ava Seumanufagai
17. Matt Doorey
19. Lachlan Lewis
20. Joe Stimson
21. Tuipulotu Katoa
23. Ofahiki Ogden
Team Changes
IN: Joe Stimson, Lachlan Lewis, Ofahiki Ogden, Tuipulotu Katoa
OUT: Brandon Wakeham
Referee: Ben Cummins
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Dragons
Embed from Getty ImagesThe tide really turned on Anzac Day when coach Anthony Griffin made a number of unneeded team changes. They were walloped by the Roosters, lost both wingers to suspension and then lost star centre Zac Lomax and winger Cody Ramsay in the shock loss to the Tigers last weekend.
Before that, they were looking very good. A forward pack that was dominant, halves that were clicking and combinations that were coming up with points.
This is a danger game for the Dragons, who shouldn’t expect a win over a Bulldogs side who is beginning to find some heart.
Bulldogs
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter a lucky but gritty win over the Sharks, Trent Barrett’s men played for all of 20 minutes against Parramatta last weekend and paid the price.
Their defence was awful but their attack looked good in that small stanza of decent football.
Make no mistake, they’re a long way off where they need to be but at least the heart in starting to comeback.
PREVIEW
This is a tough one to pick. On form, the Bulldogs should get the points. St George are down on troops big time and have several players out of position as a result.
They’re in a bad bit of form but they’re also a good enough team to bounce back.
Barrett has publicly condemned his sides poor defence but it’ll take more than that to get the points here. Flanagan needs to take more control and their error rate needs a drastic improvement to give themselves a chance of winning.
KEY STAT
Since 2018 the Dragons have won four of their six clashes, including a big 40-4 win at Jubilee Stadium in 2019. It was a game where Ben Hunt scored twice as the Dragons ran in seven tries to one.
PREDICTION
Bulldogs by 4.
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