You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Match Preview

Bulldogs v Sharks: Casey to debut; Hynes raring to go

Author
pan66.com
Timestamp

Having climbed off the bottom of the ladder with consecutive wins the Bulldogs look to continue their resurgence against the fifth-placed Sharks.

With Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr combining superbly the Bulldogs have racked up 70 points in the past fortnight to blow the Eels and Tigers off the park and they look to be enjoying their footy under Mick Potter.

The Sharks started fast with wins in five of their first seven games but have been inconsistent in the ensuing seven games with victories over the Titans twice and Warriors twice punctuated by losses to fellow contenders Brisbane, Canberra and the Roosters.

Coach Craig Fitzgibbon will be looking for his side to make a real statement against the Bulldogs ahead of a huge month in which they face the Storm, Cowboys, Panthers and Rabbitohs.

Sportsbet Betting preview: Bulldogs v Sharks

The Rundown

Team news

Bulldogs: A late positional switch for the home side with Corey Waddell coming into the starting side for Raymond Faitala-Mariner, who goes back to the bench. Coach Mick Potter will miss the clash as he isolates due to COVID protocols. Declan Casey will make his debut after being called into the centres to replace Corey Allan. Matt Burton will play after his stunning Origin debut while Kurt Morrin is good to go after picking up a shoulder injury on debut against the Tigers in Round 15.

Sharks: Only the one change for the visitors with Cameron McInnes moving to the bench and Dale Finucane starting. The Sharks will roll out the same side that downed the Titans with Siosifa Talakai and Nicho Hynes returning from the victorious Blues camp and Ronaldo Mulitalo riding high after a fine Test debut for the Kiwis. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Jake Averillo
    Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
  • Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
    Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
  • Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Aaron Schoupp
    Centre for Sharks is number 3 Jesse Ramien
  • Centre for Bulldogs is number 19 Declan Casey
    Centre for Sharks is number 4 Siosifa Talakai
  • Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
    Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
  • Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
    Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Matt Moylan
  • Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Kyle Flanagan
    Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicholas Hynes

Forwards

  • Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
    Prop for Sharks is number 8 Toby Rudolf
  • Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
    Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
  • Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Paul Vaughan
    Prop for Sharks is number 10 Royce Hunt
  • 2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson
    2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
  • 2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 15 Corey Waddell
    2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Wade Graham
  • Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Tevita Pangai Junior
    Lock for Sharks is number 15 Dale Finucane

Interchange

  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
    Interchange for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Zach Dockar-Clay
    Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Aiden Tolman
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Joe Stimson
    Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Teig Wilton
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Kurtis Morrin
    Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Andrew Fifita

Reserves

  • Replacement for Bulldogs is number 21 Jayden Tanner
    Replacement for Sharks is number 18 Connor Tracey

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ashley Klein
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Key match-up

Kyle Flanagan v Nicho Hynes: The Bulldogs playmaker has found form big time in the past two weeks, combining superbly in the halves with Matt Burton to unleash his side's attack. When things were tough early in the season the Bulldogs took seven games to rack up 70 points but they've scored that many in a fortnight with Flanagan standing tall. Hynes has enjoyed a magnificent season since joining the Sharks with 15 forced dropouts, eight try assists, 14 line break assists and 30 offloads. The former Storm man has the size and speed to carve up a defensive line and he'll make the Dogs pay if they give him room to move.

Stat Attack

Sharks flyer Ronaldo Mulitalo leads the NRL for line breaks with 20 in 12 matches and his team-mate Sione Katoa is third on the list with 14. Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr is fourth in the NRL with 13 line breaks.

Related

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.

Premier Partner

Media Partners

Major Partners

View All Partners