NRL, Match Preview, St George Illawarra Dragons v Canterbury Bulldogs, Round 9, team lists, ins and outs, updates

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Sun 30 Apr 2023, 03:05 PM

St George Illawarra take on the Bulldogs to finish Round 9 with both sides desperate for a victory leading into Magic Round next week.

The Bulldogs gave the Sharks a good test in Round 8 but ultimately had no answer for the class of Nicho Hynes and co when the game sat in the balance, with the 33-20 defeat leaving them with just three wins to their name in 2023.

Missed tackles remain an issue for Cameron Ciraldo's side, with another 35 against Cronulla meaning they have now missed more in 2023 than any side bar the Dolphins and Cowboys.

The Dragons, meanwhile, showed plenty of courage to fight back from 14 points down in the second half to push the Roosters to the limit on Anzac Day but still came up short of a much-needed win.

The performance of young fullback Tyrell Sloan was a bright spot for the Dragons and they'll look to him to again come up with some slick plays as they chase a first win since Round 5.

The two sides have met on 43 occasions in club history with Canterbury-Bankstown holding an overall lead with 26 wins. However, the Dragons have had the recent wood over the Bulldogs with five wins in their past eight clashes.

Round 9 - Round 9 - Sunday 30 Apr

Full Time

Dragons

Bulldogs

Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Highlights Latest

Team News

Dragons: A positional switch before kick-off with Jaiyden Hunt starting in the second row and Ben Murdoch-Masila reverting to the bench. Max Feagai lines up on the opposite wing to his twin brother Mathew, after coming in as injury replacement for Tautau Moga.

Bulldogs: No further changes an hour from kick-off, with teenage playmaker Karl Oloapu to make his NRL debut off the bench, taking the place of Ryan Sutton who drops out. After Max King suffered a rib injury which could keep him out for up to a month, Harrison Edwards was added to the 22-man squad and is named to start.

Round 9 - Round 9 - Sunday 30 Apr

Full Time

Dragons

Bulldogs

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Tyrell Sloan

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Hayze Perham
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai

Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Declan Casey
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Mosese Suli

Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Jake Averillo
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Zac Lomax

Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Paul Alamoti
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Max Feagai

Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Braidon Burns
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Talatau Amone

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Josh Reynolds
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Ben Hunt

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Matt Burton

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Michael Molo

Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Tevita Pangai Junior
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Moses Mbye

Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Blake Lawrie

Prop for Bulldogs is number 25 Harrison Edwards
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jack Bird

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Corey Waddell
2nd Row for Dragons is number 15 Jaiyden Hunt

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin

Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 11 Ben Murdoch-Masila

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurtis Morrin
Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Jayden Okunbor
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Toby Couchman

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Samuel Hughes
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Josh Kerr

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Karl Oloapu

Reserves

Replacement for Dragons is number 20 Billy Burns

Replacement for Bulldogs is number 19 Fa'amanu Brown

Match Officials

Referee: Grant Atkins
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Touch Judge: Chris Sutton
Senior Review Official: Kasey Badger

Last updated: 12/8/2023 1:10:50 AM

Stat Attack

The Dragons have won five of their past seven games against the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs centre Jake Averillo has scored four tries in his past two games against the Dragons.
The Dragons have won their past six games at WIN Stadium.
The Bulldogs have conceded 113 points in their past three games.
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has won six of his past eight games coaching against the Bulldogs.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.