NRL Round 1 Match Preview: Old Rivalry Fires Up

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Wed 5 Mar 2025, 10:54 AM

Cameron Ciraldo's men emerged from the Pre-Season Challenge with one win and one loss but the Head Coach will be chasing more steel in defence and greater cohesion in attack when they land at Netstrata Jubilee on March 8.

They will start their season without outside backs Jacob Kiraz and Enari Tuala, but their backline remains a lethal one with Connor Tracey, Stephen Crichton, Bronson Xerri and Matt Burton ready to fire.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 8 Mar

Full Time

Dragons

Bulldogs

Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

One of the great success stories of the 2024 season, the Bulldogs have a golden opportunity to make a fast start to their 2025 campaign with their first three games against sides who missed the finals last year in the Dragons, Titans and Eels.

The Dragons head into their season opener on a high after two encouraging wins over the Roosters and Rabbitohs in the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge.

With new boys Clint Gutherson, Val Holmes and Damien Cook all making solid contributions the Dragons looked sharper and more threatening than they had in 2024, running in 13 tries across the two matches to come within an ace of taking the Pre-Season title.

Dragons v Bulldogs – Round 23, 2024

Coach Shane Flanagan will have liked what he saw from halves Lachlan Ilias and Kyle Flanagan as they fine-tuned their combination, while Jack de Belin, Emre Guler, Ryan Couchman and Luciano Leilua all had some nice moments.

The Dragons will need to be at their best if they are to reverse a poor recent record against the Bulldogs, having not beaten the Blue and Whites since Round 12, 2022.

Team News

Bulldogs: Back at Canterbury after four seasons as a Warrior, Marcelo Montoya starts on one wing with Blake Wilson on the other. The versatile Kurt Mann starts the game at lock and Jaeman Salmon moves to the interchange bench where he us joined by Bailey Hayward, Harry Hayes and former Rooster Sitili Tupouniua in his first game for the Club.

Dragons: Powerhouse winger Christian Tuipulotu has recovered from a hamstring injury and comes into the side in the only change to the starting side that beat the Rabbitohs in Mudgee. Hooker Jacob Liddle comes in on the bench for Connor Muhleisen while local product Hamish Stewart makes his NRL debut off the bench. Tyrell Sloan and Loko Pasifiki Tonga are listed among the reserves. Dylan Egan is the 18th man.

Round 1 - Round 1 - Saturday 8 Mar

Full Time

Dragons

Bulldogs

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor Tracey
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Mathew Feagai

Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Blake Wilson
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli

Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson Xerri
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes

Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen Crichton
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Christian Tuipulotu

Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Toby Sexton

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Toby Couchman

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook

Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Emre Guler

Prop for Bulldogs is number 21 Daniel Suluka-Fifita
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin

Lock for Bulldogs is number 17 Jaeman Salmon

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Jacob Liddle

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 13 Kurt Mann
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Ryan Couchman

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Bailey Hayward
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Sitili Tupouniua
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Hamish Stewart

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Harry Hayes

Reserves

Replacement for Dragons is number 18 Dylan Egan

Replacement for Bulldogs is number 19 Blake Taaffe

Match Officials

Referee: Todd Smith
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 3/10/2025 8:32:21 PM

Stat Attack

The Bulldogs have won four of their past five games against the Dragons.
Cameron Ciraldo and Reed Mahoney suit up for their 50th game for the Bulldogs.
Marcelo Montoya plays his first match for the Bulldogs since 2020.
The Dragons have won only two of their past six games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan will make his 100th NRL appearance.
The Bulldogs have won only one of their past eight Round 1 games.
Dragons second-rower Jaydn Su’A has scored five tries in his past seven games at Kogarah.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.