The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs look to the 2017 season with excitement after receiving the draw for the NRL Telstra Premiership.
The team will kickstart their campaign with a 'Back to Belmore Sportsground' match against the Melbourne Storm in Round One, before heading to Dunedin in round three for a pioneering 'first ever' NRL match at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin against the New Zealand Warriors.
The Casaview Homes draw has thrown up a number of interesting aspects for the Bulldogs:
- It has a 'family friendly' theme with seven of the first ten home games in early time slots: one match at 6pm (Storm at Belmore Sportsground), one at 5-30pm (Raiders at ANZ Stadium) and five matches at 4pm (Souths, Roosters, Panthers, Dragons and Knights)
- The turnaround time for the Bulldogs is good with only one five day turnaround in the first 20 rounds
- The Bulldogs have blockbuster home games on Good Friday (Souths at ANZ Stadium 4pm) and the Queens Birthday (Dragons at ANZ Stadium 4pm)
- Sunday afternoon footy returns to the Belmore Sportsground with a match against the Knights in round 18
CASAVIEW HOMES NRL DRAW!
Bulldogs Chief Executive Raelene Castle saw the Casaview Homes draw as a great one for Bulldogs fans: "This year's draw has a 'family friendly' feel about it for our fans. With seven of our first ten home games in early time slots it will allow families to get to matches at a reasonable hour.
We also take a match to Dunedin for the first time, which will be a great opportunity to grow the Bulldogs support in a country where we already have a strong following. We look forward to kicking things off with a bumper Friday at Belmore against the Storm, in what I hope will be an exciting start to the season for our fans"
