The Bulldogs NSW Cup side will this week travel across the Tasman to take on the New Zealand Warriors at Eden Park on Sunday looking for their first win in two weeks.
NZ Warriors Vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Eden Park, Sunday, April 13
Kick-off: 11.45am (NZT) 9.45am (EST)
Referee: Shane Rehm
Broadcast: LIVE on Fox Sports 1 and Sky Sport NZ
Summary: While the performance of their first grade side at Remondis Stadium last Saturday has garnered all of the headlines this week, we cannot overlook that the 44-6 win by the Warriors over Cronulla in the VB NSW Cup match was the first in the clubs short existence. Coach Rohan Smith will be a relieved man to have broken the duck after they went very close against the Cutters and Tigers in recent weeks, and he can now focus on taking his side to even loftier heights. The Bulldogs managed to earn themselves a draw last round when a late try to Tyrone Phillips was enough to see the Bulldogs take a point away from their trip to Henson Park. The Bulldogs still appear to be a bit of a work in progress under new coach Andrew Patmore, but there is far too much talent in their squad for them not to be winning games on a consistent basis, and one gets the feeling that once they click, the other sides in the competition will need to look out. Feleti Mateo and Chad Townsend have both been named here following the appointment of Andrew McFadden to the NRL coaches’ hot seat mid-week while for the Dogs, their actual starting side may not be known right up until kick off with the NRL side naming an extended bench, and some other key players possible late inclusions. This match will be the first of three grades between the two clubs on Sunday from Eden Park, and with all matches shown live both in NZ and into Australia, we can’t think of better way to start your Sunday.
Centre of attention: We are unabashed Carlos Tuimavave fans at NSWRL HQ and once again we can’t wait to watch him go around this Sunday. A player who is adept at many positions including five eighth and fullback, Tuimavave will run around in the centres this round and may even come face to face with former Kiwi international, Krisnan Inu. Look for the young bull to want to get one up on the more seasoned Inu in what should be a cracking clash.
Words: www.nswrl.com.au
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