NRL 2025, Round 1, St George Illawarra Dragons, Canterbury Bulldogs, official team lists, injuries, updates

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Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sat 8 Mar 2025, 04:38 PM

The Dragons head into their season opener on a high after two encouraging wins over the Roosters and Rabbitohs in the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge.

With new boys Clint Gutherson, Val Holmes and Damien Cook all making solid contributions the Dragons looked sharper and more threatening than they had in 2024, running in 13 tries across the two matches to come within an ace of taking the Pre-Season title.

Coach Shane Flanagan will have liked what he saw from halves Lachlan Ilias and Kyle Flanagan as they fine-tuned their combination, while Jack de Belin, Emre Guler, Ryan Couchman and Luciano Leilua all had some nice moments.

The Dragons will need to be at their best if they are to reverse a poor recent record against the Bulldogs, having not beaten the blue and whites since Round 12, 2022.

Cameron Ciraldo's men emerged from the Pre-Season Challenge with one win and one loss but the coach will be chasing more steel in defence and greater cohesion in attack when they land at Netstrata Jubilee on March 8.

They will start their season without outside backs Jacob Kiraz (back) and Enari Tuala (foot) but their backline remains a lethal one with Connor Tracey, Stephen Crichton, Bronson Xerri and Matt Burton ready to fire.

One of the great success stories of the 2024 season, the Bulldogs have a golden opportunity to make a fast start to their 2025 campaign with their first three games against sides who missed the finals last year in the Dragons, Titans and Eels.

Round 1 - Saturday 8th March

Full Time

Dragons

Bulldogs

Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

Team News

Dragons: Powerhouse winger Christian Tuipulotu has recovered from a hamstring injury and comes into the side in the only change to the starting side that beat the Rabbitohs in Mudgee. Hooker Jacob Liddle comes in on the bench for Connor Muhleisen while local product Hamish Stewart makes his NRL debut off the bench. Dylan Egan remains in the squad as 18th man one hour from kick off.

Bulldogs: In a late change, Kurt Mann moves to the bench, bringing in Jaeman Salmon to start at lock. Former Roosters and Rabbitohs prop Daniel Suluka-Fifita has been called up to start in his debut for the Bulldogs in a late change, replacing Sam Hughes. Back at Canterbury after four seasons as a Warrior, Marcelo Montoya starts on one wing with Blake Wilson on the other. Bailey Hayward, Harry Hayes and former Rooster Sitili Tupouniua in his first game for the club will come off the bench. Blake Taafe remains in the squad as 18th player one hour from the match.

Round 1 - Saturday 8th March

Full Time

Dragons

Bulldogs

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor Tracey
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai

Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Blake Wilson
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli

Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson Xerri
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes

Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen Crichton
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu

Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Toby Sexton

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Toby Couchman

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook

Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Emre Guler

Prop for Bulldogs is number 21 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin

Lock for Bulldogs is number 17 Jaeman Salmon

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 13 Kurt Mann
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Ryan Couchman

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Bailey Hayward
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Sitili Tupouniua
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Hamish Stewart

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Harry Hayes

Reserves

Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Dylan Egan

Replacement for Bulldogs is number 19 Blake Taaffe

Match Officials

Referee: Todd Smith
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 08:32 pm Monday 10th March 2025

Stat Attack

The Dragons have won only two of their past six games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
The Bulldogs have won four of their past five games against the Dragons.
Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan will make his 100th NRL appearance.
The Bulldogs have won only one of their past eight Round 1 games.
Dragons second-rower Jaydn Su’A has scored five tries in his past seven games at Netstrata.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.