NRL Finals Week One Team News: Return to Melbourne
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs side to face the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park has been named.
The Bulldogs will head down to the Victorian capital for the second time in 2025 to kick-off their 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series, eager to reverse the result from their last meeting in Round 25.
Match: Storm v Bulldogs
Finals Week 1 -
home Team
Storm
2nd Position
away Team
Bulldogs
3rd Position
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Following a third-placed finish on the ladder, the Bulldogs' next match, win or lose, will be back at home at Accor Stadium.
Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo has named a strong side to take on the Storm, with minimal changes from their Round 27 victory over the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
The biggest change comes in the form of a new wing pairing of Bulldogs' Rookie of the Year Jethro Rinakama and Blake Wilson, with Enari Tuala moving into the centres.
The remainder of the line up remains intact from the Bulldogs' Round 27 match, with an extended bench of Jake Turpin, Kurtis Morrin, Toby Sexton, Harry Hayes and Jacob Kiraz.
Lock Jaeman Salmon will celebrate his 100th NRL game. The 2022 Premiership-winner will play his 39th game for the Club since his arrival in 2024.
Tickets are now available online for both Members and the general public - be sure to help us paint Melbourne Blue and White and get your tickets here!
As we gear up for an unmissable NRL finals series, 2026 Bulldogs Membership has now gone on sale – with packages starting from just $35!
Members who join for 2026 before Friday 12 December, are also eligible to go into the draw to win a trip for two (2) to Las Vegas for our Round 1 showdown against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday 28 February! Terms and conditions apply.
JOIN NOW! BECOME A 2026 MEMBER TODAY!
Don't let a bet take you away from the match.
Reclaim the Game, be gamble aware.
The Finals Week One team is as follows:
| No. | Player | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connor Tracey | Penny’s Crispy Pork Crackling |
| 2 | Jethro Rinakama | Corellian |
| 3 | Enari Tuala | Hy-Tec Concrete |
| 4 | Stephen Crichton (c) | Juice Lab & Co Bankstown |
| 5 | Blake Wilson | Chemistworks |
| 6 | Matt Burton | PPC Moulding Services |
| 7 | Lachlan Galvin | Sydney City Building Group |
| 8 | Max King | Intello IT Solutions |
| 9 | Bailey Hayward | Platinum Rehabilitation Group |
| 10 | Sam Hughes | Brushwood Engineering Group |
| 11 | Viliame Kikau | Allied X |
| 12 | Jacob Preston | Guardian Venue Management International |
| 13 | Jaeman Salmon | Dental on Evaline |
| Interchange | Recovery Partners | |
| 14 | Kurt Mann | Zoom Energy |
| 15 | Sitili Tupouniua | Lira Financial |
| 16 | Josh Curran | Khalil Lawyers |
| 21 | Toby Sexton | Waterview |
| Reserves | ||
| 22 | Harry Hayes | |
| 23 | Jacob Kiraz |
| Coaching Staff | Name | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Cameron Ciraldo | Kumho Tyre |
