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Match Preview

Bulldogs v Sea Eagles; Crichton banned; Talau back on deck

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Fifth meets seventh under the Friday night lights at Accor Stadium in a mouth-watering clash of two great rivals in Round 26.

Charging towards their first finals appearance since 2016, the Bulldogs have now won five on the trot and have plenty of momentum on their side as they look to climb into the top four and earn a double chance.

A season-ending injury to lock Kurt Mann put something of a dampener on the win in Auckland but coach Cameron Ciraldo has the players at his disposal to fill the void and ensure the disruption is minimal, with Jaeman Salmon, Kurtis Morrin and Lipoi Hopoi in the mix to step up.

Likewise a change will be required in the backline with captain Stephen Crichton suspended for one match for his high shot on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

Sportsbet Betting Preview: Bulldogs v Sea Eagles

The Sea Eagles are coming off a shock loss to Wests Tigers and will look to regroup quickly ahead of their first trip to the finals since 2021.

Centre Tommy Talau is due to return from a pectoral injury in a boost for Manly but they will be without Corey Waddell, who copped a two-game ban for a high shot against Wests Tigers.

Even allowing for the fact they lost three players to the sin bin at Leichhardt Oval, the Sea Eagles would have been hugely disappointed to give up six tries to the side sitting last on the ladder and a repeat of those defensive lapses would see the Dogs run riot.

The Bulldogs have built an imposing 7-1 record at Accor Stadium this season and a monster crowd is assured for the first meeting of these two sides since Round 26 last year. 

Team News

Bulldogs: The Bulldogs will line up 1-17 as named. Skipper Stephen Crichton will miss Friday's blockbuster due to suspension, with Jacob Kiraz shifting to the centre and Jeral Skelton coming into the side on the wing. Josh Curran is set to return from a shoulder injury in a major boost for the Bulldogs, while Kurt Mann is set for six weeks on the sidelines with a fractured clavicle. Drew Hutchison is 18th man.

Sea Eagles: Matt Lodge and Karl Lawton have been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off with Nathan Brown moving to the bench and Ben Trbojevic dropping to 18th man. Tommy Talau is set to slide straight back into the centres after missing last week's loss to the Wests Tigers with a pec injury. As a result, Tolu Koula moves back to the bench. Corey Waddell is serving a two-match suspension.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor Tracey
    Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
  • Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jeral Skelton
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
  • Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson Xerri
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tommy Talau
  • Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Jacob Kiraz
    Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
  • Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
    Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
  • Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
    Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
  • Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Toby Sexton
    Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly   Cherry-Evans

Forwards

  • Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
  • Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
    Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
  • Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Samuel Hughes
    Prop for Sea Eagles is number 17 Matthew Lodge
  • 2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
  • 2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
    2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 19 Karl Lawton
  • Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Jaeman Salmon
    Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Bailey Hayward
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Nathan Brown
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Kurtis Morrin
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Tolutau Koula
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Harry Hayes
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Josh Aloiai
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Josh Curran
    Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor

Reserves

  • Replacement for Bulldogs is number 21 Drew Hutchison
    Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic

Match Officials

  • Referee: Ashley Klein
  • Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
  • Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • The Bulldogs have won their last seven games at Accor Stadium.
  • The Sea Eagles have won nine of their past 10 games against the Bulldogs.
  • Bulldogs centre Jacob Kiraz has scored seven tries in his past seven games.
  • Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored 12 tries in his past six games against the Bulldogs.
  • Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored 22 tries in 25 games at Accor Stadium.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, 

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