The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs side for their round 16 clash with the Manly Sea Eagles features three players who will make their NRL debuts.
Falakiko Manu, Bailey Biondi-Odo and Chris Patolo have been named to live out a childhood dream and become Bulldog players 817, 818 and 819.
The three debutants join Brad Deitz, Jackson Topine and Aaron Schoupp who have also made their NRL debuts in season 2021.
Patolo is a current member of the club’s development list, while both Manu and Biondi-Odo are on train and trial contracts with the club.
Chris is a local junior from the Bankstown Sports club is a talented edge back rower or middle forward. He has been a member of the club’s Harold Matthews and SG Ball sides, as well as representing the NSWCCC side in 2018. Patolo is a graduate of the club’s High-Performance Youth Program and is a first year Jersey Flegg player in 2021.
PROFILE
Height: 185cm
Weight: 110kg
Birthplace: Sydney, NSW
Date of Birth: 23-7-2001
Position: Prop/Second-row
Junior Club: Bankstown Sports Club
Bailey joined the club from the Parramatta Eels ahead of season 2020. The talented half who hails from Innisfail featured in the club’s 2020 NRL Nines team and has been a member of the club’s 2021 Jersey Flegg side.
PROFILE:
Height: 173cm
Weight: 85kg
Birthplace: Mt Isa, Queensland
Date of Birth: 6-12-2001
Position: Halfback
Junior Club: Innisfail Cowboys
Falakiko was born in Auckland and played his junior football at the Mangere East Hawks junior club before moving to Australia in 2014. He joined the Bulldogs in 2016 were he played 43 games across two seasons for the club’s under 20s team before spending two season at Cabramatta in 2018 and 2019. The outside back joined Mounties last season and has been one of their best performers in season 2021, scoring six tries from 13 appearances. The 24-year old is currently on a train and trial contract with the Bulldogs.
PROFILE:
Height: 180cm
Weight: 90kg
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Birth: 11-05-1997
Position: Centre
Junior Club: Mangere East Hawks
