Matt Attard previews the Sunday afternoon clash between the NZ Warriors and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
New Zealand Warriors Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Date: Sunday March 26, 2:00pm (AEDT)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Edward Kosi 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Bayley Sironen 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Tom Ale 18. Josh Curran 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Rocco Berry 23. Demitric Sifakula
Bulldogs: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 14. Jayden Okunbor 15. Corey Waddell 16. Jayden Tanner 17. Fa’amanu Brown 19. Braidon Burns 20. Josh Reynolds 21. Karl Oloapu 22. Jackson Topine 23. Kurtis Morrin
Referee: Peter Gough
Embed from Getty ImagesMATCHDAY PREVIEW
While much will be said about the 10-minute capitulation against Wests Tigers last week, not much will be said about the improvement of the Bulldogs.
They still have a way to go before they become a consistent finals team, but the signs are promising.
They are also promising for the New Zealand Warriors who have been ultra impressive in 2023, capped off by a big result in North Queensland against the Cowboys last round.
Shaun Johnson is controlling things well thanks to the work from halves partner Te Maire Martin.
The Bulldogs will be without six starting forwards after Franklin Pele joined the injured list, while Warriors will be missing impressive hooker Wade Egan through concussion.
Historically these clashes are always close and always entertaining. The Warriors, at home, will be hoping to put on a show for their fans while the Bulldogs will be looking to string together an 80-minute performance for the first time under Cameron Ciraldo.
It’s a hard one to pick, but it’s probably a safe bet to say it will be a close one.
LAST TEN MATCHES
Warriors 7, Bulldogs 3
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Bulldogs by one point.
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