NRL 2020: Canterbury Bulldogs, Cronulla Sharks, trial match at Port Macquarie previewed

Author: Troy Whittaker NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp: Fri 28 Feb 2020, 09:50 AM

Canberra will have their first 80-minute hit-out since last year's grand final when they face Canterbury in Port Macquarie on Saturday.

The Bulldogs took a strong squad to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea last weekend and emerged with a solid 30-18 win over Cronulla.

The squads will engage in community activities in the lead-up to the match as the north coast region recovers from the devastating bushfires.

Round 3 - Round 3 - Saturday 29 Feb

Full Time

Bulldogs

Raiders

Venue: Port Macquarie Regional Stadium, Port Macquarie

Highlights Latest

The Rundown

Team News

Bulldogs: Adam Elliott, Aiden Tolman, Brandon Wakeham, Christian Crichton, Corey Hawira-Naera, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Britt, Dylan Napa, Isaiah Tass, Jack Cogger, Jake Averillo, Jayden Okunbor, Joe Stimson, Josh Jackson, Kerrod Holland, Lachlan Lewis, Morgan Harper, Ofahiki Ogden, Reimis Smith, Renouf To'omaga, Sione Katoa, Will Hopoate

Captain Josh Jackson (fractured nose) and fellow back-rower Adam Elliott are back from injuries. Fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been named but will be assessed in regards to playing after suffering back bruising while on Maori All Stars duty last weekend. Indigenous All Stars forward Chris Smith sustained a torn MCL and a partially torn ACL and will be out for at least 12 weeks. Sauaso Sue (knee), Marcelo Montoya (knee), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (ankle), Jeremy Marshall-King (shoulder) and Nick Meaney (hamstring) are unavailable.

Raiders: Jarrod Croker (c), Nick Cotric, Matt Frawley, Emre Guler, Siliva Havili, Josh Hodgson (c), Corey Horsburgh, Dunamis Lui, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Kai O’Donnell, Michael Oldfield, Josh Papalii, Curtis Scott, Bailey Simonsson, Harley Smith-Shields, Sia Soliola, Daine Spencer, Ryan Sutton, Joe Tapine, Matt Timoko, Semi Valemei, Elliott Whitehead, Jack Wighton, George Williams, Sam Williams, Hudson Young.

A strong squad has been named with 13 members of last year's grand final side taking part. Former Storm centre Curtis Scott is set to make his club debut, while Jack Wighton and George Williams will link in the halves for the first time. English enforcer John Bateman (shoulder) is the only notable absentee.

Round 3 - Round 3 - Saturday 29 Feb

Full Time

Bulldogs

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 4 Will Hopoate

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jayden Okunbor

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Bailey Simonsson
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Reimis Smith

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Jarrod Croker
Centre for Bulldogs is number 21 Morgan Harper

Centre for Raiders is number 14 Curtis Scott
Winger for Bulldogs is number 23 Jake Averillo

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Nick Cotric
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Lachlan Lewis

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 14 Jack Cogger

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 George Williams

Forwards

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Aiden Tolman

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Sione Katoa

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh Hodgson
Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Dylan Napa

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Iosia Soliola
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh Jackson

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Corey Horsburgh
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Corey Harawira-Naera

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Adam Elliott

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Joseph Tapine

Interchange

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 7 Brandon Wakeham

Interchange for Raiders is number 4 Michael Oldfield
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Ofahiki Ogden

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Dean Britt

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Dunamis Lui
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Isaiah Tass

Interchange for Raiders is number 162 Kai O'Donnell

Reserves

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 19 Renouf Atoni

Reserve for Raiders is number 17 Ryan Sutton
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 20 Joe Stimson

Reserve for Raiders is number 18 Sam Williams
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Kerrod Holland

Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Matt Frawley
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 24 Tuipulotu Katoa

Reserve for Raiders is number 20 Matthew Timoko
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 25 Aaron Schoupp

Reserve for Raiders is number 21 Siliva Havili
Reserve for Raiders is number 22 Daine Spencer

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Referee: Dave Munro
Touch Judge: Todd Smith

Last updated: 12/8/2022 3:40:30 AM

The big question

Bulldogs: Who steps up in the pack? With Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Chris Smith to miss round one with injuries, there's a chance for fringe players to establish themselves in the 17. Off-season recruits Dean Britt and Joe Stimson look to be jostling to partner Josh Jackson in the second-row.

Raiders: Will the halves combination click from the get-go? New No.7 George Williams only arrived in Australia in January and is yet to play alongside Clive Churchill Medal winner Jack Wighton. Both men are both running playmakers and it will be interesting to see their chemistry.