Bulldogs.com.au takes a look at the key match-up for round 1 with the Manly Sea Eagles.
Both the Bulldogs and the Sea Eagles will have a new halves pairing in 2016, with Moses Mbye and Josh Reynolds to wear the six and seven for the Bulldogs, while Daly Cherry-Evans will start a new partnership with Dylan Walker after five years alongside Kieran Foran.
The Bulldogs six and seven only partnered on seven occasions last season and will line up together for the first time this year on Friday night.
The departure of halfback Trent Hodkinson to the Knights in the off-season will see both players assume more responsibility this season.
Reynolds and Mbye 2015 Stats:
| REYNOLDS |
MBYE | |
| GAMES | 17 | 23 |
| ERRORS | 19 | 23 |
| OFFLOADS | 18 | 3 |
| TOTAL RUNS (avg) | 148 (8.7) | 169 (7.3) |
| RUN METRES (avg) | 1100m (64.7m) | 1541m (67m) |
| KICKS (avg) | 134 (8) | 150 (6.5) |
| KICK METRES (avg) | 3459m (203.5m) | 3576m (155.5m) |
| TACKLES BREAKS | 28 | 20 |
| LINE BREAKS | 3 | 5 |
| LINE BREAK ASSISTS | 8 | 11 |
| TRY ASSISTS | 8 | 10 |
| 40/20s | 1 | 1 |
| TACKLES MADE (avg) | 292 (17) | 440 (19) |
| TRIES | 3 | 3 |
| TACKLE EFFICIENCY | 82.7% | 83.2% |
Their opposite numbers Daly Cherry-Evans and Dylan Walker will see a changing of the guard at the Sea Eagles and with Walker set to start in the number six jersey for the fourth time in his career, Cherry-Evans has been given a licence to roam, but the success of the new combination will be told as the season unfolds.
Cherry-Evans and Walker 2015 Stats:
| CHERRY-EVANS | WALKER | |
| GAMES | 23 | 22 |
| ERRORS | 31 | 11 |
| OFFLOADS | 21 | 17 |
| TOTAL RUNS (avg) | 185 (8) | 250 (11.4) |
| RUN METRES (avg) | 1334m (58m) | 2346m (106.7m) |
| KICKS (avg) | 250 (10.9) | |
| KICK METRES (avg) | 7326m (318.5m) | |
| TACKLE BREAKS | 41 | 66 |
| LINE BREAKS | 9 | 10 |
| LINE BREAK ASSISTS | 15 | 8 |
| TRY ASSISTS | 18 | 6 |
| TACKLES MADE (avg) | 526 (22.8) | 298 (13.5) |
| MISSED TACKLES (avg) | 37 (1.6) |
47 (2.1) |
| 40/20s | 3 |
|
| TRIES | 4 | 13 |
