SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6th, 2025
Dragons v Panthers
Win Stadium,Sydney,3pm.
Dragons Seek Redemption in Season’s Final Act at WIN Stadium
The Dragons’ season has been one of frustration, but as the curtain falls, they see one last chance to leave a mark. A victory over the defending premiers would not only lift spirits in Wollongong but also send their rivals stumbling into the finals burdened with a four-game losing streak.
For Shane Flanagan’s men, the challenge is personal as much as it is competitive. They too carry the weight of three straight defeats—against the Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, and Warriors—and must summon strength from the loyal WIN Stadium faithful to turn the tide.
Flanagan has placed his trust in the same 17 who battled last week, though there is a glimmer of change on the horizon. Michael Molo, fighting back from an ankle injury, has been named among the reserves with hopes of a return. Yet for back-rower Hamish Stewart (concussion) and centre Moses Suli (knee), the road to recovery stretches into 2026, their focus already shifting to the seasons ahead.
Dragons
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Hayden Buchanan 4. Mathew Feagai , 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook, 10. David Klemmer 11. Jacob Halangahu 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin, Bench: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Hame Sele 17. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga Reserves: 18. Ben Murdoch-Masila 19. Corey Allan 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Michael Molo, 22. Blake Lawrie.
Panthers Reload for Finals but Dragons Loom as Wildcards
The premiers have pressed pause, but now it’s time to hit play. After resting their entire squad last weekend, Penrith unleash their stars once more—Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Dylan Edwards and the rest of their heavy artillery—primed for one last tune-up before the finals begin.
On paper, the Panthers stride in as clear favourites. Yet even champions know better than to underestimate a Dragons side with a taste for giant-killing. Only weeks ago, the Red V toppled both Canberra and Cronulla in back-to-back upsets, proof that unpredictability can be their most dangerous weapon.
Ivan Cleary restores much of his arsenal, though not without caution. Winger Brian To’o and back-rower Liam Martin are granted another week’s rest after enduring a bruising campaign. In their absence, Paul Alamoti keeps his place on the flank, while Matt Eisenhuth, fresh from captaining the side in their week off, remains part of the 17 entrusted to carry momentum into September.
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Luke Garner 13. Isaah Yeo Bench: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Isaiah Papali’i 17. Matt Eisenhuth, Reserves: 18. Daine Laurie 19. Mavrik Geyer 20. Riley Price 21. Luron Patea 22. Jaxen Edgar.
Key Stats
The Dragons have won three of their past four games at WIN Stadium.
The Panthers have won seven of their last eight games against the Dragons.
Dragons winger Tyrell Sloan has scored seven tries in his last seven games.
Panthers captain Nathan Cleary has scored six tries in his last six games against the Dragons.
The Dragons have beaten four of the current top eight teams this season.
Officials
Referee, Peter Gough,Touch Judges, Chris Sutton, Kieren Irons, Bunker, Grant Atkins.
Panthers Eye Sharpness in Finals Warm-Up Against Dragons
The Dragons showed glimpses of resistance against Manly last week, but defensive lapses saw 40 points piled on against them. Across the league, Penrith took a calculated gamble—sending out their NSW Cup side against the Bulldogs—and paid the price in a heavy defeat.
Now, the premiers return with purpose. This clash against the Dragons is less about ladder positions and more about rhythm, cohesion, and urgency. With an elimination final looming, the Panthers know they must hit the ground running, sharpening every edge before September’s sudden-death intensity.
The smart money suggests Penrith will prevail—perhaps by a margin of 14—but the real test lies in how polished they look when the final whistle blows.
Titans v Tigers
Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast,5.30pm.
Titans Face Wooden Spoon Fate as Hasler’s Era Ends with Bold Debuts
The Titans stand at the edge of an unwanted chapter. A third wooden spoon in club history looms unless they can topple the Wests Tigers and then pray for the Knights to stumble against the Eels on Sunday.
It’s been a sobering decline. After tallying eight wins to finish 14th in 2024, this year has delivered just five victories. Since Round 13, the Gold Coast have found themselves anchored to the bottom rung, either alone or in company.
Yet even in farewell, coach Des Hasler brings a note of intrigue. His final team sheet features two debutants—former Wallaby Carter Gordon, slotting into the centres, and teenage prospect Cooper Bai. Injuries and reshuffles add to the mix: Jojo Fifita’s hamstring setback opens the door, while Keano Kini shifts to fullback, AJ Brimson to the centres, and Phil Sami returns on the wing after a groin strain. For Jaylan De Groot and Tony Francis, the season ends on the sidelines.
It’s not the script Hasler envisioned, but for the Titans, this final act could offer at least a spark of hope in a season defined by struggle.
Titans
1. Keano Kini 2. Brian Kelly 3. AJ Brimson 4. Carter Gordon 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills, 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui Bench: 14. Cooper Bai 15. Klese Haas 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Josh Patston Reserves: 18. Tukimihia Simpkins 19. Jaylan De Groot 20. Tom Weaver, 21. Sean Mullany 22. Tony Francis.
Tigers’ New Era Roars as Finals Finish Beckons Against Titans
For the Wests Tigers, 2025 has carried the scent of renewal. The arrivals of Jarome Luai, Terrell May, and Sunia Turuva have injected fresh energy, transforming a side once marooned near the bottom into one with bite and belief.
Their Round 20 meeting with the Titans was proof of their grit—a nail-biting 21-20 victory at Leichhardt Oval sealed by an Adam Doueihi field goal. This week, though, the playmaker will be absent, sidelined by a fractured cheekbone, leaving others to seize the moment.
Changes ripple through the squad. Winger Jeral Skelton’s concussion opens the door for 18-year-old debutant Heamasi Makasini, while Alex Seyfarth’s return from suspension forces Charlie Murray back to the reserves.
It may not be full strength, but with fresh blood and a sense of momentum, the Tigers will look to close out their campaign in style—and perhaps hammer the final nail into the Titans’ wooden spoon fate.
Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To’a 5. Heamasi Makasini, 6. Jarome Luai 7. Latu Fainu 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Sione Fainu 13. Alex Twal Bench: 14. Heath Mason 15. Royce Hunt 16. Alex Seyfarth, 17. Tony Sukkar Reserves: 18. Tristan Hope 19. Charlie Murray 20. Kit Laulilii , 21. Krystian Mapapalangi 22. Charlie Staines.
Key Stats
The Titans have won five of their past seven games against the Tigers.
Wests Tigers have not defeated the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium since 2017.
The Titans have conceded 122 points in their past three games.
Wests Tigers can claim their 10th win of the season for the first time in six years.
Titans winger Phillip Sami has scored seven tries in his last six games against Wests Tigers.
Officials
Referee, Chris Butler, Touch Judges, Liam Kennedy, Belinda Sharpe ,Bunker, Matt Noyen.
Titans Look to Send Hasler Off in Style Against Tigers
The Titans showed flashes of their attacking spark against the Dolphins last week, crossing for some well-crafted tries, but their effort was undone by costly errors and shaky defence. The Tigers, meanwhile, matched the Raiders stride for stride until halftime before fading late, proof of the strides they’ve made in 2025.
This Saturday carries a deeper weight for the Gold Coast. It marks Des Hasler’s final game at the helm, and his players will be desperate to deliver a performance worthy of both their coach and the talent within their squad. With the raw pace of Keano Kini and AJ Brimson, coupled with the craft of Jayden Campbell, the Titans have the tools to spring one last surprise—especially if the Tigers are already looking toward their off-season.
The belief lingers that the Titans can find the spark to farewell Hasler on a high. The tip: Titans by 8.
Bulldogs v Sharks
Accor Stadium,Sydney,7.45pm.
Bulldogs Tune Up for Finals as Sharks Fight for Ladder Position
Fresh from brushing aside a depleted Panthers outfit, the Bulldogs are determined to raise the tempo when they welcome the Sharks to Accor Stadium on Saturday night. With September looming, the stage is set for a clash between two genuine contenders, each with very different stakes on the line.
For Canterbury, the equation is straightforward. Third spot is locked in, their opening finals assignment already confirmed as a trip south to Melbourne. The Sharks, however, face a sliding scale of possibilities—victory could propel them into the top four, while defeat risks dropping them to sixth.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo has resisted the temptation to rest his stars, preferring to keep the side humming. The only enforced change comes on the wing, with Jacob Kiraz sidelined by an ankle injury and Enari Tuala drafted in. In a boost for the pack, Viliame Kikau returns after overcoming an infection, pushing Josh Curran back to the bench and Daniel Suluka-Fifita out of the 17.
Their Round 4 encounter offers a reminder of what’s possible. That night, the Bulldogs triumphed 20-8 at Sharks Stadium, fuelled by a Bronson Xerri double and a powerhouse performance from Max King that stamped his credentials for Origin. On Saturday, with finals form on the line, both sides will be chasing a statement victory.
Bulldogs:
1. Connor Tracey 2. Enari Tuala 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward, 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon ,Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Josh Curran 17. Reed Mahoney, Reserves: 19. Jake Turpin 20. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 21. Kurtis Morrin 22. Jethro Rinakama 23. Toby Sexton.
Sharks Regain Key Troops as Finals Race Tightens
The Sharks receive a timely boost for their clash with the Bulldogs, with centre Jesse Ramien cleared to return after two weeks sidelined by a thumb injury. His comeback sees Mawene Hiroti make way, restoring strike power to the backline.
In the halves, Braydon Trindall has been named despite hobbling off last Sunday with an ankle complaint, while forward Oregon Kaufusi edges closer to a return, listed among the reserves as he continues his recovery from a calf issue.
With finals positions still up for grabs, the return of Ramien and the potential inclusion of Kaufusi add fresh steel and spark to a Sharks side determined to make one last push up the ladder.
Sharks
1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf, 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun Bench: 14. Hohepa Puru 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele Reserves: 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Oregon Kaufusi 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha.
Key Stats
The Bulldogs have won eight from 10 at Accor Stadium this season.
The Sharks have scored 94 points in their last two games.
The Bulldogs have won only two of their past eight games against the Sharks.
Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored eight tries in his last five games.
The Bulldogs have won five and lost five against top-eight opposition this season.
Officials
Referee, Ashley Klein, Touch Judges, Michael Wise, Drew Oultram, Bunker, Adam Gee.
Bulldogs and Sharks Clash in Finals Dress Rehearsal
The Bulldogs handled Penrith’s reserve-grade side last week, though without the polish of a true contender. The Sharks, by contrast, flexed their muscles in a commanding win over the Knights, a reminder of the firepower they’ll carry into September.
For Cronulla, the stakes may hinge on results elsewhere. Depending on how the Broncos fare, this match could be a gateway into the top four—or little more than a formality. Either way, both sides know the value of momentum, and neither will want to limp into the finals off the back of a defeat.
With intensity rising and little separating the two, expect a contest fought with September ferocity. The edge goes narrowly to Canterbury. Tip: Bulldogs by 4.
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