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After a season of ups, downs and plenty of drama the Broncos enter round 25 all but assured of a finals berth and a trip to Manly or Parramatta in week one of the play-offs. 

A win will give them some momentum heading into the finals but a loss could see them miss out altogether in the unlikely event of a draw between the Sharks and Tigers on Sunday.

Canterbury's slim hopes of reaching the finals ended last weekend, but the fact they'd got themselves back into the picture over the preceding month was more than anyone had expected over the opening four months of the season.

They now get the chance to play for the role of spoiler once again. If they can limit the effectiveness of teen stars Payne Haas and David Fifita on Saturday night, they'll have gone a long way towards doing that.

The Rundown

Team news

Bulldogs: The Bulldogs are 1-17. Chris Smith (head knock) and Raymond Faitala-Mariner (medial ligament strain) have trained well and will both play, while Morgan Harper will make his NRL debut. Fa'amanu Brown and Ofahiki Ogden were the first cuts from the 21-man squad on Friday, while Isaiah Tass and Danny Fualalo were the last players omitted before kick-off. The Bulldogs have won three of their past four games at ANZ Stadium.

Broncos: The Broncos are also 1-17. Joe Ofahengaue (calf) was ruled out for another week with Rhys Kennedy joining the interchange bench. Sean O'Sulliovan was the other omission 24 hours out from game time, while Gehamat Shibasaki and Shaun Fensom were the last players cut before kick-off. Jake Turpin returns from suspension to take the No.7 jumper from O'Sullivan. The Broncos have won three of their past four games against the Bulldogs.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Will Hopoate
    Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Anthony Milford
  • Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Nick Meaney
    Winger for Broncos is number 2 Corey Oates
  • Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Morgan Harper
    Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
  • Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Reimis Smith
    Centre for Broncos is number 4 Alex Glenn
  • Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Jayden Okunbor
    Winger for Broncos is number 5 Jamayne Isaako
  • Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Kieran Foran
    Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Darius Boyd
  • Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan Lewis
    Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Jake Turpin

Forwards

  • Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Aiden Tolman
    Prop for Broncos is number 8 Matthew Lodge
  • Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
    Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Andrew McCullough
  • Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Dylan Napa
    Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
  • 2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson
    2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 David Fifita
  • 2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Corey Harawira-Naera
    2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Matt Gillett
  • Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Adam Elliott
    Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan

Interchange

  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jack Cogger
    Interchange for Broncos is number 14 James Segeyaro
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Renouf Atoni
    Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Thomas Flegler
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
    Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Izaia Perese
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Chris Smith
    Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Rhys Kennedy

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Referee: Chris Butler
  • Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated:

Key match-up

Kieran Foran and Darius Boyd have a mammoth 513 NRL games between them and both have found form in recent weeks. For Foran, it was always going to be about keeping out of the casualty ward. He's done that and strong play has followed. For Boyd, the win over the Eels was one of his best performances of 2019 and he's up and about for another crack at finals footy. 

For the Bulldogs to win

Their defence has been of the highest order over the last five games with the 16 points scored by Wests Tigers in Round 21 the most during that period. If they can keep the Broncos to two tries or less in this one anything is possible.

For the Broncos to win

When they're on their game, Corey Oates and Jamayne Isaako are a great wing combination. When they're not they can leave Broncos fans scratching their heads. If they both fire against Canterbury the Dogs could be in for a long 80 minutes.

Brett Kimmorley says

Good game, this one. The Dogs have been arm-wrestling great and Kieran Foran has been finding his best form. Without a lot of strike in the No.9 and No.7 jerseys, the Broncos have the best rosters I’ve seen for a long, long time with that forward pack and those outside backs and then Milford at fullback. The Broncos need to take that quality on paper onto the park. Broncos by 6

Stat Attack

In his last nine matches, Payne Haas is averaging 211 metres per contest. His lowest output in that period was 154 metres against Melbourne in round 20.

And another thing ...

The Bulldogs have form when it comes to knocking teams out of the finals race in the last round. In 2017 they beat St George Illawarra 26-20 in round 26 to relegate the Red V to ninth spot on the ladder.

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.

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