Bulldogs v Cowboys: Round 1 Pregame Notes

Author: bulldogs.com.au
Timestamp: Sun 13 Mar 2022, 04:47 PM

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs open their 2022 season on the road this Sunday night against the North Queensland Cowboys at 6:15PM (AEDT) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

It is the most anticipated start to a Bulldogs season for some time, with coach Trent Barrett finally in possession of a team he feels could gel nicely. After a tough few seasons Canterbury look set for something much better this season, the question being, just how far can that improvement take them in 2022?

Team News

Bulldogs: The dawn of a new era at Belmore with Matt Dufty, Josh Addo-Carr, Brent Naden, Matt Burton, Paul Vaughan, Max King and Braidon Burns all making their club debuts.

Burns has beaten out Aaron Schoupp for a spot in the centres.

Jake Averillo will call the shots from halfback alongside Burton, while Jeremy Marshall-King fills the vital dummy half role with Bailey Biondi-Odo backing him up from the bench.

Cowboys: Inspirational skipper Jason Taumalolo is back on deck after missing the trials with a minor hamstring complaint. Along with promising back-rower Jeremiah Nanai, they are the two new faces into the side which took care of the Broncos in impressive fashion in the club's final trial.

Chad Townsend, Peta Hiku and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown are set to make their Cowboys debuts.

Hiku has been named at centre, while Taunoa-Brown has completed an impressive pre-season with a starting front-row berth alongside Coen Hess.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Sunday 13 Mar

Full Time

Cowboys

Bulldogs

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Cowboys is number 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Matthew Dufty
Winger for Cowboys is number 2 Kyle Feldt

Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jayden Okunbor
Centre for Cowboys is number 3 Valentine Holmes

Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Braidon Burns
Centre for Cowboys is number 4 Peta Hiku

Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Brent Naden
Winger for Cowboys is number 5 Murray Taulagi

Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
Five-Eighth for Cowboys is number 6 Tom Dearden

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
Halfback for Cowboys is number 7 Chad Townsend

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Jake Averillo

Forwards

Prop for Cowboys is number 8 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Paul Vaughan
Hooker for Cowboys is number 9 Reece Robson

Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-King
Prop for Cowboys is number 13 Jason Taumalolo

Prop for Bulldogs is number 23 Ava Seumanufagai
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 12 Jeremiah Nanai

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Jack Hetherington
2nd Row for Cowboys is number 17 Tom Gilbert

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 15 Corey Waddell
Lock for Cowboys is number 16 Mitchell Dunn

Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Josh Jackson

Interchange

Interchange for Cowboys is number 10 Coen Hess

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 8 Luke Thompson
Interchange for Cowboys is number 11 Heilum Luki

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Bailey Biondi-Odo
Interchange for Cowboys is number 15 Jordan McLean

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Max King
Interchange for Cowboys is number 18 Jake Granville

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Chris Patolo

Reserves

Replacement for Cowboys is number 19 Scott Drinkwater

Replacement for Bulldogs is number 20 Aaron Schoupp

Match Officials

Referee: Ben Cummins
Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judge: Nick Morel
Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated: 3/4/2024 11:32:52 PM

The courage in the forwards remains with captain Josh Jackson and Luke Thompson looking to lead from the front, yet it is the new addition of Paul Vaughan that stand to add some much needed starch to a pack that was rarely embarrassed in 2021.

Elsewhere, Jack Hetherington and Jeremy Marshall-King will be seeking breakout seasons, yet it is in the backs where the Bulldogs will be looking to make the most significant changes.

Matt Dufty Mid-Week Press Conference: Round 1 v Cowboys

Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Brent Naden and Matt Dufty join Jake Averillo in a backline that Bulldogs fans are looking to see. Whilst the trials showed just how difficult it is to connect and combine immediately with so many new faces in the line-up, there is no doubt that the Bulldogs will be a better side as the season unfolds and a quick start against the Cowboys would be a great way to open the 2022 campaign.

North Queensland suffered an equally disappointing season in 2021, with a 15th placed finish barely better than the Bulldogs. Many pundits have the Queenslanders at long odds to make the finals this season and the Bulldogs as one of the big improvers, with the new talent on board, fit and ready to make a difference.

It stands to be a cracking Round 1 affair, with the new Bulldog breed hoping to make an opening statement on foreign soil and the Cowboys also looking to kick start a season they hope to be better than the one just passed.

Desperation will be a key component of this clash, with Canterbury committed to write off poor trial form and the Cowboys determined to win at home to start the year. It could well be a tight one, with a win for either team providing the most perfect start to season 2022.

Key Match-Up

Matt Dufty v Hamiso Tabuia-Fidow: Arguably two of the fastest fullbacks in the NRL, Tabuia-Fidow and Dufty have a different playing style but both are key players for their respective teams. While Tabuia-Fidow is a powerful runner with the ball, Dufty is like an extra play-maker and his combination with halves Matt Burton and Jake Averillo will be a threat for the Cowboys defence. However, the Bulldogs will need to kick away from Tabuia-Fidow as he is a danger from kick returns.

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs play their first 2022 NRL Season fixture against the North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium this Sunday evening, kicking off at 6:15PM AEDT. Tickets are available to our Round 1 match here.