Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 1 clash between the St George Illawarra Dragons and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
St George Illawarra Dragons Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Date: Saturday March 8, 5:30pm (ADST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Dragons: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Ryan Couchman 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Hamish Stewart 18. Dylan Egan 19. Tyrell Sloan 20. Lyhkan King-Togia 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 22. Tom Eisenhuth
Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Jaeman Salmon 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Luke Smith 23. Ratu Rinakama
Referee: Todd Smith
Bunker: Grant Atkins
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
It’s a new era for Shane Flanagan’s Dragons – the post Hunt era – as they host the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
A grudge match for the ages, these two old rivals will kick start the season in front of what is sure to be a sold out Kogarah crowd.
Clint Gutherson headlines several new recruits in the red V’s lineup, while Cameron Ciraldo is hoping Sitili Tupouniua will overcome a hamstring injury to play. Former Canberra Raider Emre Guler will make his Dragons debut in the front row.
Question marks remain over the Bulldogs’ bench as both Bailey Hayward and Jaeman Salmon are named, with Josh Curran suspended.
The Dragons had two excellent trial victories, albeit against weakened opponents, while the Bulldogs only had one real first grade trial and found it hard to knock off the cobwebs. The Bulldogs comfortably won both 2024 clashes between the sides: 44-12 and 28-10.
How the Dragons will cope without their leading try creator and points scorer (Hunt and Lomax) remains to be seen, although Valentine Holmes is a hell of a goal kicking replacement for Eels recruit Lomax.
The Bulldogs will be desperate to prove 2024 was no fluke as they remain stable with their roster on the back of a finals appearance.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Bulldogs by 12 points.
Check out all the NRL Predictions here.
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