NRL.com match preview: Round 9 v Bulldogs
St George Illawarra take on the Bulldogs to finish Round 9 with both sides desperate for a victory leading into Magic Round next week.
The Bulldogs gave the Sharks a good test in Round 8 but ultimately had no answer for the class of Nicho Hynes and co when the game sat in the balance, with the 33-20 defeat leaving them with just three wins to their name in 2023.
Missed tackles remain an issue for Cameron Ciraldo's side, with another 35 against Cronulla meaning they have now missed more in 2023 than any side bar the Dolphins and Cowboys.
The Dragons, meanwhile, showed plenty of courage to fight back from 14 points down in the second half to push the Roosters to the limit on Anzac Day but still came up short of a much-needed win.
The performance of young fullback Tyrell Sloan was a bright spot for the Dragons and they'll look to him to again come up with some slick plays as they chase a first win since Round 5.
The two sides have met on 43 occasions in club history with Canterbury-Bankstown holding an overall lead with 26 wins. However, the Dragons have had the recent wood over the Bulldogs with five wins in their past eight clashes.
Match: Dragons v Bulldogs
Round 9 -
home Team
Dragons
16th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
13th Position
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Team News
Dragons: A positional switch before kick-off with Jaiyden Hunt starting in the second row and Ben Murdoch-Masila reverting to the bench. Max Feagai lines up on the opposite wing to his twin brother Mathew, after coming in as injury replacement for Tautau Moga.
Bulldogs: No further changes an hour from kick-off, with teenage playmaker Karl Oloapu to make his NRL debut off the bench, taking the place of Ryan Sutton who drops out. After Max King suffered a rib injury which could keep him out for up to a month, Harrison Edwards was added to the 22-man squad and is named to start.
Match: Dragons v Bulldogs
Round 9 -
home Team
Dragons
away Team
Bulldogs
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell SloanFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Hayze Perham
-
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew FeagaiWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Declan Casey
-
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese SuliCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Jake Averillo
-
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac LomaxCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Paul Alamoti
-
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Max FeagaiWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Braidon Burns
-
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Talatau AmoneFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Josh Reynolds
-
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben HuntHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Matt Burton
Forwards
-
Prop for Dragons is number 8 Michael MoloProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Tevita Pangai Junior
-
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Moses MbyeHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
-
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake LawrieProp for Bulldogs is number 25 Harrison Edwards
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jack Bird2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Corey Waddell
-
2nd Row for Dragons is number 15 Jaiyden Hunt2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
-
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De BelinLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Interchange
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 11 Ben Murdoch-MasilaInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurtis Morrin
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob LiddleInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Jayden Okunbor
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Toby CouchmanInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Samuel Hughes
-
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Josh KerrInterchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Karl Oloapu
Reserves
-
Replacement for Dragons is number 20 Billy BurnsReplacement for Bulldogs is number 19 Fa'amanu Brown
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
- Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Dragons have won five of their past seven games against the Bulldogs.
- Bulldogs centre Jake Averillo has scored four tries in his past two games against the Dragons.
- The Dragons have won their past six games at WIN Stadium.
- The Bulldogs have conceded 113 points in their past three games.
- Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has won six of his past eight games coaching against the Bulldogs.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
