It's finally here - after months of waiting, dreaming and hoping, the NRL Telstra Premiership is back, and there's no bigger way to kick-off the new year than taking on our fierce rivals at Allegiant Stadium!
In 2025 the Bulldogs thrived on the big occasions during the season, and they'll be wanting to start the 2026 season in the same manner in the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Match: Bulldogs v Dragons
Round 1 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Dragons
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
- Fox Sports 2
With plenty of team news, and stats to unpack, here is our Round 1 Match Preview.
- Teamlists and Team News
- History vs Dragons and Last Time Out
- Key Match Up
- What They Said
- Stat Attack
- Where to Watch
Teamlists and Team News
Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo has named a strong side headlined by the addition of Matt Burton in the halves, while Sam Hughes will start in the front row. Wingers Jacob Kiraz and Marcelo Montoya will also make their first appearance of the year.
With the NRL's introduction of a six-man bench, Ciraldo has named Kurt Mann, Sitili Tupouniua, Harry Hayes, Josh Curran, new signing Sean O'Sullivan and Jake Turpin on his interchange.
Meanwhile, the Dragons have named a strong line up, albeit without bench hooker Jacob Liddle, while they welcome back experienced campaigners Josh Kerr, Hame Sale and Valentine Holmes. Winger Setu Tu has been named to make his NRL debut.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor TraceyFullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob KirazWinger for Dragons is number 2 Christian Tuipulotu
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson XerriCentre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen CrichtonCentre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Dragons is number 5 Setu Tu
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Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt BurtonFive-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan
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Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan GalvinHalfback for Dragons is number 7 Daniel Atkinson
Forwards
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingProp for Dragons is number 8 Emre Guler
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Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Bailey HaywardHooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Samuel HughesProp for Dragons is number 10 Toby Couchman
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
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Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Jaeman SalmonLock for Dragons is number 13 Hamish Stewart
Interchange
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt MannInterchange for Dragons is number 14 Hame Sele
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Sitili TupouniuaInterchange for Dragons is number 15 Josh Kerr
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Harry HayesInterchange for Dragons is number 16 Blake Lawrie
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Josh CurranInterchange for Dragons is number 17 Ryan Couchman
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Sean O'SullivanInterchange for Dragons is number 18 Lyhkan King-Togia
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Jake TurpinInterchange for Dragons is number 19 David Fale
Reserves
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Enari TualaReserve for Dragons is number 20 Jacob Halangahu
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Jonathan SuaReserve for Dragons is number 21 Mathew Feagai
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Alekolasimi JonesReserve for Dragons is number 22 Tyrell Sloan
Match Officials
- Referee: Grant Atkins
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
- Senior Review Official: Adam Gee
Last updated:
History vs Dragons and Last Time Out: Round 20, 2025
Since 1935, the Bulldogs faced St George 145 times, and from 1999 St George Illawarra on 48 occasion, enjoying a dominant 31-17 winning record.
It's important to note that the Blue and White started off their 2025 campaign with a 28-20 win against the Dragons, which saw Sitili Tupouniua at his barraging best at Kogarah Oval in his Club debut.
NRL Match Highlights: Bulldogs vs Dragons - Round 20, 2025
That was the first time since 2005 the sides had faced off in the first game of the season, but if this weekend's match proves to be another thriller, we might just see the fixture become an opening round tradition.
But last time out was one to remember, which saw the Bulldogs claim victory from the jaws of defeat at Accor Stadium in Round 20 last year. Young gun Lachlan Galvin came up clutch to provide Jethro Rinakama the match-winning try in the dying stages to seal a thrilling 20-18 victory.
Key Match Up: The Fullbacks
Connor Tracey and Clint Gutherson are two key figures for both the Bulldogs and Dragons respectively, with their consistency and high work-rate their most valuable traits - which will be imperative in their side's first match of the season.
Tracey's Brick Wall Efforts
Tracey enjoyed arguably his best season in the NRL in 2025, averaging a whopping 200 metres per game, while scoring 4 tries, setting up a further 12 and winning 15 games.
Meanwhile, a sea change after nine seasons at Parramatta proved to be fruitful for the Dragons' co-captain in 2025, who averaged 152 metres with the ball in hand, scoring 7 tries, setting up 16 tries and winning 8 matches.
With it being the first game of the year, the onus will be on the workhorse fullbacks to keep momentum going when fatigue inevitably sets in at the back-end of the match.
What They Said: Viliame Kikau and Jacob Preston
Viliame Kikau Round 1 Media
Jacob Preston Round 1 Media
Stat Attack via NRL.com
- The Bulldogs have won their past five games against the Dragons.
- A Dragons outside back has scored a hat-trick in the team’s last three Round 1 games.
- Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri has scored six tries in five games against the Dragons.
- Dragons pair Damien Cook and Daniel Atkinson will make their second appearance at Allegiant Stadium.
- Bulldogs second-rower Viliame Kikau has won nine from nine against the Dragons.
Where to Watch
All three matches will be available to watch live on FoxSports and Kayo, while the Bulldogs vs Dragons match will also be broadcast live on Channel 9.
