FRIDAY, JULY 4th, 2025
Broncos v Bulldogs
Accor Stadium, Sydney.8pm.
The Bulldogs may have fallen just short in an 8-6 thriller against Penrith last week—hailed by many as a contender for game of the season—but they’ve proven they’re far from pushovers in this year’s campaign.
With State of Origin duties stripping both teams of key personnel, Sunday’s clash levels out as an intriguing test of depth and resilience.
For Canterbury, the backline sees a reshuffle with Blake Wilson and Enari Tuala stepping in as Stephen Crichton and Jacob Kiraz link up with the Blues. Up front, young guns Harry Hayes and Sam Hughes are thrust into starting roles, covering for Max King (Origin) and Daniel Suluka-Fifita (concussion). The bench gets a shake-up too, with Lipoi Hopoi and Kurt Morrin injected into the 17, filling the void left by Kurt Mann (Origin) and Hayes, who earns a promotion to the starting pack.
Bulldogs
1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Enari Tuala. 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Harry Hayes 9. Reed Mahoney. 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Bailey Hayward . 14. Lachlan Galvin 15. Josh Curran 16. Lipoi Hopoi 17. Kurtis Morrin 19. Jake Turpin . 20. Jethro Rinakama 21. Jack Todd 22. Luke Smith 23. Jack Underhill
Out: Jacob Kiraz (wing), Stephen Crichton (centre), Max King (front row), Daniel Suluka-Fifita (front row), Kurt Mann (bench)
In: Blake Wilson (wing), Enari Tuala (centre), Samuel Hughes (front row), Lipoi Hopoi (bench), Kurtis Morrin (bench)
Changes: Harry Hayes (bench to front row)
Momentum-Building Broncos Face New-Look Bulldogs
Fresh off a surge into fifth place on the ladder, the Broncos are riding a wave of momentum—and they’re eyeing a repeat performance against one of the competition’s toughest outfits.
When Brisbane and the Bulldogs last met in Round 8, the Broncos stunned the then-ladder leaders with a commanding 42-18 win. That victory proved a turning point. Since then, Madge Macguire’s men have found their rhythm, stringing together three straight wins and looking more like the premiership contenders many expected them to be.
With State of Origin selections shaking up both squads, Brisbane will again lean on their depth. Selwyn Cobbo makes his return to the NRL stage, stepping in at fullback for Reece Walsh, who’s away in Maroons camp. Deine Mariner also earns a recall, filling the void left by Gehamat Shibasaki, who gets his Origin debut. Up front, the absence of Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan is no small blow, but Xavier Willison and Kobe Hetherington slot into the starting pack, while Jaiyden Hunt and Tyson Smoothy bolster the bench.
This won’t be the same Bulldogs side they met earlier in the year—but it’s also not the same Broncos side either.
Broncos.
1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner. 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix. 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington. 14. Billy Walters 15. Jaiyden Hunt 16. Tyson Smoothy 17. Jack Gosiewski . 18. Delouise Hoeter 19. Ben Talty 20. Blake Mozer 21. Va’a Semu 22. Josh Rogers
Out: Reece Walsh (fullback), Gehamat Shibasaki (centre), Payne Haas (front row), Patrick Carrigan (lock)
In: Selwyn Cobbo (fullback), Deine Mariner (centre), Jaiyden Hunt (bench), Tyson Smoothy (bench)
Changes: Kobe Hetherington (bench to lock), Xavier Willison (bench to front row)
Key Stats
The Bulldogs have won five of their six games at Accor Stadium this season.
The Broncos have won six of their past seven games against the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have not beaten the Broncos at Accor Stadium since 2019.
Broncos hooker Billy Walters will make his 100th NRL appearance.
The Bulldogs have won three from six without captain Stephen Crichton in 2024-25.
Bulldogs Eye Revenge as Undermanned Broncos Return to Sydney
The Bulldogs walked away bruised but not broken after last week’s epic arm-wrestle with Penrith—an 8-6 loss that could have gone either way. Meanwhile, the Broncos kept their roll going, dispatching the Warriors with confidence and climbing into the top five.
But as the two sides prepare to clash again, memories of Round 8 still linger. That rainy night saw Brisbane run riot in Sydney, thrashing the Bulldogs 42-18 in one of their most dominant performances of the season.
This time, however, both sides are missing key personnel to Origin duty, and the stakes feel different. For Canterbury, Matt Burton’s availability is a huge boost—but it also reignites the selection puzzle around young gun Lachlan Galvin. Can they squeeze both into a game plan that fires for 80 minutes?
There’s a sense that the Bulldogs have circled this one on the calendar. After all, revenge is a powerful motivator—and with home fans behind them, don’t be surprised if they turn the tables and make a statement of their own.
Referees. Todd Smith, Touch Judges, Drew Oultram, Chris Sutton, Bunker, Chris Butler.
Nice to see Adam Gee and Casey Badger not involved in this game. Both were terrible last week, again. Unfortunately in the Roosters v Tigers game they get Gee in the Bunker.
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