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Match Preview

Warriors v Bulldogs: Frei to debut; Raiders to the rescue

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pan66.com
Timestamp

A Warriors side that has found some defensive steel in recent weeks faces a Canterbury outfit that is struggling to prevent points.

Wins over Wests Tigers and the Sharks in the last two weeks were featured by conceding just 16 points in each contest, a noted achievement considering they'd conceded an average of 28 points across their first 18 matches of 2021.

The Bulldogs have conceded 628 points in 20 matches, the worst in the NRL.

Stretching back to last year, Canterbury have won five of their last 40 matches.

The rundown

Team news

Warriors: Edward Kosi replaces the suspended Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on the wing and Wayde Egan returns at hooker, with Jazz Tevaga shifting to lock and Bayley Sironen dropping out of the side.

Jack Murchie will be the 18th man.

The Warriors have won four of their past six games against the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs: There has been a change during the warm-up with Corey Allan dropping out and Jayden Okunbor the new winger. Kyle Flanagan will be the 18th man.

Loan players Ryan James and Corey Horsburgh will be at the club for the next two weeks.

Jack Hetherington and Dylan Napa will be missing for the next two games due to suspension.

Bench forward Matt Doorey moves into the second row in place of Corey Waddell, who drops out of the squad.

Jackson Topine and Lachlan Lewis dropped off the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.

Canterbury lock Adam Elliott will make his 100th NRL appearance.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
    Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Nick Meaney
  • Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
    Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Falakiko Manu
  • Centre for Warriors is number 3 Peta Hiku
    Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Will Hopoate
  • Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
    Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Aaron Schoupp
  • Winger for Warriors is number 18 Edward Kosi
    Winger for Bulldogs is number 20 Jayden Okunbor
  • Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
    Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Bailey   Biondi-Odo
  • Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Sean O'Sullivan
    Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Jake Averillo

Forwards

  • Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
    Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Ava  Seumanufagai
  • Hooker for Warriors is number 22 Wayde Egan
    Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King 
  • Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jackson Frei
    Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Ryan James
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Josh Curran
    2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Adam Elliott
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Euan Aitken
    2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Matt Doorey
  • Lock for Warriors is number 9 Jazz Tevaga
    Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Josh Jackson

Interchange

  • Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Kodi Nikorima
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Sione Katoa
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty Afoa
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Chris Patolo
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Corey Horsburgh
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Eliesa Katoa
    Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Joe Stimson

Reserves

  • Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Jack Murchie
    Reserve for Bulldogs is number 19 Kyle Flanagan

Match Officials

  • Referee: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
  • Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
  • Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated:

Key match-up

Wayde Egan v Jeremy Marshall-King. This pair are similar in style when it comes to directing play. Marshall-King has looked very dangerous out of dummy half at different times this season, while Egan has six try assists and seven line-break assists from his darts as hooker.

Stat attack

Addin Fonua-Blake turned in a super performance against the Sharks last weekend. In 55 minutes of game time he ran for 222m (including 95 post-contact metres) and had just one missed tackle. The Bulldogs need to keep an eye on him of they're to win this one.

 

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Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.