The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have been forced to move their Round Five match versus the Melbourne Storm from HBF Park in Perth to Stadium Australia, after COVID related issues around travel meant that the fixture could not be guaranteed to go ahead.
The change will now provide Bulldogs Members and fans in Sydney, the opportunity to watch one of the top ranked teams in the Melbourne Storm. It will also result in:
* the Bulldogs Round 16 fixture against the Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday 3 July, being moved from Stadium Australia to Bankwest Stadium
* the Bulldogs Round 20 fixture against the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday 1 August, being re-located from Bankwest Stadium to a venue to be confirmed at a later date.
Bulldogs Chief Executive Aaron Warburton was disappointed that COVID had prevented the club from playing at HBF Park, Perth this season:
“It is disappointing that we won’t get to play this season’s game in Perth due to COVID related circumstances. With the match fast approaching and a number of travel related issues still up in the air we have had to make the final decision to postpone the game.
We will continue working closely with HBF Park and the Western Australian Government around the promotion of our games there for the next two seasons (2022 and 2023) and we are still very committed to playing matches in Perth.”
VenuesWest added:
“VenuesWest recognizes the challenges that COVID has placed on presenting these events, and acknowledge the professionalism to which the Bulldogs have approached the situation. We look forward to welcoming the Bulldogs back to WA in 2022.”
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
* Round 5 – Saturday 10 April (5-30pm) – Bulldogs v Storm: MOVED from HBF Park, Perth to Stadium Australia, Sydney
* Round 16 – Saturday 3 July (3pm) – Bulldogs v Manly Sea Eagles: MOVED from Stadium Australia to Bankwest
* Round 20 – Sunday 1 August (2pm) – Bulldogs v Titans: MOVED from Bankwest to a venue to be confirmed
* Twelve Home Match Summary – Stadium Australia five matches, Bankwest Stadium four matches, Suncorp Stadium one match (Magic Round), Belmore Sports Ground one match and TBC one match
* The Round Five match versus the Melbourne Storm at Stadium Australia will now be a home match for Members in place of the Round 20 match v the Titans which will be moved to a regional venue TBC
