The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs open their 2023 NRL Premiership campaign when they face the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on Saturday afternoon at 4 Pines Park (3:00PM AEDT).
An exciting new era starts this weekend with Cameron Ciraldo in charge of his first NRL Premiership fixture with the Bulldogs.
The club will unveil three NRL debutants for the match in Brookvale, with Paul Alamoti, Jacob Preston and Jayden Tanner entrusted to donning the blue chevron against the Sea Eagles.
Team News
Bulldogs: Forward Luke Thompson will be out of action after suffering a foot injury in a field session on Tuesday. Fa'amanu Brown will play his 50th NRL match after being selected to the lock the scrum. Max King and Ryan Sutton will muscle up in the front row, with damaging ball runner Franklin Pele named on the interchange bench.
Sea Eagles: Fullback Tom Trbojevic is the major inclusion for the northern beaches side, returning for his first fixture since May last year. Cooper Johns will link up with Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves after the club had confirmed Josh Schuster's withdrawal from the match last week.
Match: Sea Eagles v Bulldogs
Round 1 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
away Team
Bulldogs
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom TrbojevicFullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Hayze Perham
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Christian TuipulotuWinger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad ParkerCentre for Bulldogs is number 3 Jake Averillo
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Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Tolutau KoulaCentre for Bulldogs is number 4 Paul Alamoti
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Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben GarrickWinger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
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Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Cooper JohnsFive-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
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Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-EvansHalfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Kyle Flanagan
Forwards
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela PasekaProp for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
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Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan CrokerHooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
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Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Jake TrbojevicProp for Bulldogs is number 10 Ryan Sutton
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau
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2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Kelma Tuilagi2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
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Lock for Sea Eagles is number 17 Josh AloiaiLock for Bulldogs is number 13 Fa'amanu Brown
Interchange
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 13 Sean KeppieInterchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jayden Tanner
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Kaeo WeekesInterchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Corey Waddell
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Ben TrbojevicInterchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Franklin Pele
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Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan BullemorInterchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Jacob Preston
Reserves
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Replacement for Sea Eagles is number 22 Gordon Chan Kum TongReplacement for Bulldogs is number 19 Braidon Burns
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Player to Watch: Franklin Pele
The prop forward has made an impression on the Bulldog's faithful, making some impressive on-field contributions to the team in the club's two Pre-Season Challenge matches this year. A hard-running front-rower, there is plenty to like about the year 22-year old who brings plenty of starch to the Bulldog's frontline.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will take on the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park, this Saturday, kicking off at 3:55PM AEDT. Tickets available here.
