Match Discussion: Round 5 vs Canterbury @ Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

[League Unlimited News]

NRL 2025 - Round 5
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Newcastle Knights
Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal (TICKETS)

Sunday 6 April 2025
Kickoff 6:15pm AEST
Live on Fox, Kayo

1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Bailey Hayward 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Josh Curran 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon
14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Jack Todd 17. Kurtis Morrin
19. Lipoi Hopoi 20. Blake Taaffe 21. Jake Turpin 22. Luke Smith 23. Jacob Kiraz

Out: Sitili Tupouniua (bench)
In: Kurtis Morrin (bench), Lipoi Hopoi (reserve), Blake Taaffe (reserve), Jake Turpin (reserve), Luke Smith (reserve), Jacob Kiraz (reserve)

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Thomas Cant 12. Tyson Frizell 13. Adam Elliott
14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Mathew Croker
18. Brodie Jones 19. Kyle McCarthy 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Jackson Hastings 22. Tyrone Thompson

In: Leo Thompson (front row), Kyle McCarthy (reserve), Matthew Arthur (reserve), Jackson Hastings (reserve), Tyrone Thompson (reserve)
Changes: Brodie Jones (front row to reserve)

Referee: Ashley Klein
Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, Kieren Irons
Video Referee: Wyatt Raymond

HEAD TO HEAD - 1988 - 2024​

	TOTAL	CBY	NEW	DRAWN
ALL MATCHES	57	30	26	1
ACCOR	16	9	7	0

LAST FIVE MEETINGS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2022	Round 20	CBY 24-10	McD. Jones	19813
2023	Round 18	NEW 66-0	Accor	11004
2023	Round 24	NEW 42-6	McD. Jones	23464
2024	Round 7	CBY 36-12	Accor	17784
2024	Round 13	CBY 32-2	McD. Jones	21204

BIGGEST WINS​

YEAR	ROUND	RESULT	VENUE	CROWD
2004	Round 25	CBY 52-6	Telstra	20043
2023	Round 18	NEW 66-0	Accor	11004

NEXT FOUR MATCHES​

	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Round 9
CANTERBURY	BYE	SOU (H)	BRI (A)	GLD (A)
NEWCASTLE	WST (H)	CRO (H)	WAR (A)	SOU (A)

LAST THREE MATCHES​

	Round 2		Round 3		Round 4
CANTERBURY	GLD	W 40-24	PAR	W 16-8	CRO	W 20-6
NEWCASTLE	DOL	W 26-12	GLD	L 6-26	BYE

STATE OF PLAY: 2025 SEASON​

	POSITION	PLAYED	BYES	W-L-D	FOR	AGAINST
CANTERBURY	1st	4	0	4-0-0	104	58
NEWCASTLE	8th	3	1	2-1-0	42	46

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Bradman Best said on the Matty Johns show that Lucas could be back next week!

 

[Apey]

I do not like our chances.

 

[Zoidberg]

Bradman Best said on the Matty Johns show that Lucas could be back next week!

Heard him say that but I’m doubtful.

 

[Old dog]

Want Lucas 100% right if this week or later as long as fit and well

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Want Lucas 100% right if this week or later as long as fit and well

Agreed.

 

[Woody90]

I reckon we’ll improve a lot on last week but still probably lose.

Kinda looking forward to it regardless though. Wouldn’t say the Dogs are a bench mark, but they have had the best form consistently so far so looking forward to seeing how far away we are.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Dogs are missing troops but still winning. Sooner or later they are going to fall off and lose a game

Sadly it wont be this week

Dogs by 18

 

[Yosh]

Doggies undefeated and looking strong only 3 years into their rebuild. We in year 6 and still looking Meh. What's everyone's take? We still right behind AOB?

 

[Burwood]

Meh. They’ve played 4 games. 18 months ago we were on a 10 game streak and the belle of the ball.

 

[perverse]

Doggies undefeated and looking strong only 3 years into their rebuild. We in year 6 and still looking Meh. What's everyone's take? We still right behind AOB?

They have advantages that we don't (don't underestimate being a Sydney-based club as far as recruitment goes. Do you think Luai goes to the Tigers if he has to uproot his life too?).

With AOB at the moment, I'm still a mixed bag with him, which admittedly is not great after 6 years. I think he has proven himself now in a number of key areas, but leaves a sour taste in my mouth by other metrics. I think he's very good at nurturing young talent and bringing them through to first grade. I think he has the respect of the squad and he has instilled a steel in them that we haven't had since maybe the early 90s. It's very rare for us to pack up shop and give up now.

What I still can't get behind are the general on-field tactics and bench strategies - but that has taken a major turn this year too and I'm interested to see how it pans out. How he handles our spine in the next 12 months will make or break him. If he gets Sharpe, Ponga and Brown functioning at their best in the same spine, a lot of the past is going to be forgiven. I can't deny that he's got some fundamentals in place now that you can build on - but we have to take the next step now. Shit or get off the pot, as they say. We've had enough foreplay.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

f**k it, I say we'll win and win well.

These flogs have gotta lose sometime

 

[macavity]

I think we get lapped

 

[perverse]

Oh yeah on this game... I'm struggling to see how we win it after our last performance. I'm not sure how good the Dogs are yet in the grand scheme, but they're definitely playing better and more consistently than we are (obviously). We need to be heaps more patient and sharper with our execution to have any chance.

 

[Yosh]

Gus always says every side will win and lose one in their first six games. Let's make it the Doggies first loss!

 

[Dr Dr Gimedanews]

Doggies undefeated and looking strong only 3 years into their rebuild. We in year 6 and still looking Meh. What's everyone's take? We still right behind AOB?

It's not AOB fault we arent improving more quickly. Look at the roster he's had to work with. The progress has been unacceptably slow, and that's totally on management.

Compare the media narrative and consider the rosters of the Roosters and Knights. AOB would have the Rorters in the 8 this year. It's still a top roster.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Jack Hetherington suddenly a $1.01 favourite to be sin binned this weekend after Annesley's latest crackdown:

NRL’s sudden sin bin crackdown revealed as Buzz blows up after ‘cheap shot’ defended

NRL’s sudden sin bin crackdown revealed as Buzz blows up after ‘cheap shot’ defended

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Burwood]

Jack Hetherington suddenly a $1.01 favourite to be sin binned this weekend after Annesley's latest crackdown:

NRL’s sudden sin bin crackdown revealed as Buzz blows up after ‘cheap shot’ defended

NRL’s sudden sin bin crackdown revealed as Buzz blows up after ‘cheap shot’ defended

www.foxsports.com.au

Our only possible saving grace is that it’s the last game of the round. After the 7 previous games and no doubt media uproar over the amount of soft sin bins, hopefully the refs will be a bit more reluctant to send players for 10.

 

[League Unlimited News]

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Thomas Cant 12. Tyson Frizell 13. Adam Elliott

14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Mathew Croker

18. Brodie Jones 19. Kyle McCarthy 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Jackson Hastings 22. Tyrone Thompson

In: Leo Thompson (front row)
Changes: Brodie Jones (front row to reserve)

Oh, and Ash Klein is referee.

NRL TEAMS - 2025 Round 5 » League Unlimited

leagueunlimited.com

 

[Old dog]

Still missing a few, Gamble, KPP, Lucas but not bad, don’t know what Brodies done to be dropped to 18th man and McEwen selected in front of him, think we could do with Brodies experience, McEwen has potential.
Of course as 18th man would be cover for Hetherington HIA via Mahoney attack