Good Friday is set to be very, very good for rugby league fans with a crowd of 70,000 predicted to pour into Accor Stadium for the showdown between the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs.
The Bulldogs are flying in 2025 and sit on top of the ladder with a 5-0 record while Wayne Bennett's return has sparked a Rabbitohs revival and they sit fifth with four wins and two losses.
The Good Friday clash has been essential viewing since 2012.
The Rabbitohs have had the wood on the Dogs in the past six Good Friday clashes but Cameron Ciraldo's men will go in as hot favourites to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
Jacob Kiraz Press Conference: Round 7
Team News
Bulldogs: Five-eighth Matt Burton is back after missing three games with a knee injury and Viliame Kikau is part of the extended squad as he eyes a return from a knee injury. Bailey Hayward goes back to the bench after deputising for Burton in the past three games. Sitili Tupouniua returns from suspension on the bench. Blake Taaffe has gone to 18th man.
Rabbitohs: Skipper Cody Walker returns from a hamstring injury to partner Latrell Mitchell in the halves with Englishman Lewis Dodd named on the bench for his first NRL game. Another backline boost for the Bunnies with Campbell Graham (calf) returning on the wing in place of the injured Alex Johnston. Prop Sean Keppie is free to play after successfully having his Careless High Tackle charge downgraded at the judiciary. Jayden Sullivan is serving a one-game suspension. Former Sea Eagle Josh Schuster has been listed among the reserves after returning to the field in NSW Cup last weekend.
Match: Bulldogs v Rabbitohs
Round 7 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Rabbitohs
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor TraceyFullback for Rabbitohs is number 1 Jye Gray
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob KirazWinger for Rabbitohs is number 2 Campbell Graham
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson XerriCentre for Rabbitohs is number 3 Euan Aitken
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen CrichtonCentre for Rabbitohs is number 4 Jack Wighton
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Rabbitohs is number 5 Isaiah Tass
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Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt BurtonFive-Eighth for Rabbitohs is number 6 Latrell Mitchell
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Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Toby SextonHalfback for Rabbitohs is number 7 Cody Walker
Forwards
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingProp for Rabbitohs is number 8 Sean Keppie
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Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed MahoneyHooker for Rabbitohs is number 9 Peter Mamouzelos
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 11 Josh CurranProp for Rabbitohs is number 10 Tevita Tatola
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 11 Keaon Koloamatangi
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 23 Viliame Kikau2nd Row for Rabbitohs is number 12 Jai Arrow
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Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Jaeman SalmonLock for Rabbitohs is number 13 Lachlan Hubner
Interchange
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt MannInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 14 Lewis Dodd
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Sitili TupouniuaInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 15 Siliva Havili
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Jack ToddInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 16 Tallis Duncan
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Bailey HaywardInterchange for Rabbitohs is number 17 Davvy Moale
Reserves
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Replacement for Bulldogs is number 10 Daniel Suluka-FifitaReplacement for Rabbitohs is number 18 Liam Le Blanc
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Bulldogs have conceded just 14 points in their past three games.
- Bulldogs Captain Stephen Crichton has scored 11 tries in 12 games against the Rabbitohs.
- The Bulldogs require one try for 1000 tries at Accor Stadium.
- Should the Bulldogs win, it will be just the second time in Club history where they have begun a season with six wins to start a season. The first time this happened was 1938.
- The Rabbitohs have won their last six Good Friday games against the Bulldogs.
- Rabbitohs five-eighth Latrell Mitchell has won 11 consecutive games against the Bulldogs.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
