After three weeks of travel, rest and travel again, the Bulldogs are finally back at Accor Stadium for the first time in 2026 - and this week's match against the Knights promises to bring plenty of intrigue to the table.
While the Blue and Whites are flying high after two wins and a bye, the luckless Knights will be limping into this match after a number of casualties - but Bulldogs beware, this is not a match to be taken lightly.
The Club will not only be celebrating the occasion with Junior League Round, but a number of other exciting activations across the day which you can see in our Round 4 Gameday Guide here.
Download Your 2026 NRL Team Poster here!
Match: Bulldogs v Knights
Round 4 -
home Team
Bulldogs
3rd Position
away Team
Knights
8th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
As usual, there is plenty of team news, stats and info to unpack in our Round [] Match Preview.
- Teamlists and Team News
- History vs Knights and Last Time Out
- Key Match Up
- What They Said
- Stat Attack
- Where to Watch
Teamlists and Team News
The Bulldogs have a few changes to the side that defeated the Canberra Raiders in the ACT last week; most notably the omission of forward duo Sam Hughes and Harry Hayes.
Sitili Tupouniua comes in for his first starting role in the front row, while Lipoi Hopoi comes in for his first game of the season. Sean O'Sullivan and Fletcher Baker have been named on the bench, with an opportunity to make their Bulldogs debuts.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor TraceyFullback for Knights is number 1 Fletcher Hunt
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob KirazWinger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Enari TualaCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen CrichtonCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Marcelo MontoyaWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
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Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt BurtonFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe
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Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan GalvinHalfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon Smith
Forwards
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingProp for Knights is number 8 Jacob Saifiti
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Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Bailey HaywardHooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Sitili TupouniuaProp for Knights is number 10 Tyson Frizell
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Dylan Lucas
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Jermaine McEwen
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Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Jaeman SalmonLock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker
Interchange
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt MannInterchange for Knights is number 14 Thomas Cant
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Josh CurranInterchange for Knights is number 15 Pasami Saulo
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Lipoi HopoiInterchange for Knights is number 16 Cody Hopwood
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Sean O'SullivanInterchange for Knights is number 17 Francis Manuleleua
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Jonathan SuaInterchange for Knights is number 18 Tyson Gamble
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Fletcher BakerInterchange for Knights is number 19 Harrison Graham
Reserves
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Logan SpinksReserve for Knights is number 20 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Jack UnderhillReserve for Knights is number 21 James Schiller
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Bronson XerriReserve for Knights is number 22 Wilson De Courcey
Bulldogs Ins
- Bronson Xerri
- Fletcher Baker
- Jack Underhill
- Jonathan Sua
- Lipoi Hopoi
- Logan Spinks
Knights Ins
- Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
- Fletcher Sharpe
- James Schiller
- Wilson De Courcey
Bulldogs Outs
- Harry Hayes
- Jake Turpin
- Samuel Hughes
Knights Ins
- Trey Mooney
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Dave Munro
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins
Last updated:
Meanwhile the Newcastle Knights have been bolstered by the return of five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe following injuries to Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown. The suspension to Trey Mooney has seen Tyson Frizell move to the front row and youngster Cody Hopwood added to the bench.
History vs Knights and Last Time Out: Round 5, 2025
Season 1988 was a revolutionary one for the NSWRL, with Brisbane and Newcastle entering the competition.
More importantly, however, the Phil Gould-led Bulldogs took out the Club's sixth Premiership in 24-12 victory against the Balmain Tigers at the brand-new Sydney Football Stadium.
Plenty of time has passed since then, and plenty of memorable victories have been had, most notably Hazem El Masri's clutch goal up at Marathon Stadium in 2002.
Match Highlights: Bulldogs vs Knights - Round 20, 2002
Recent results have also been favourable to the Bulldogs, who have won their last three matches against the Knights. Canterbury hold a superior record against the Novocastrians, having won 32 from 59 contests.
While the Pre-Season Challenge clash saw the Bulldogs triumph 28-nil, it has been nearly a whole year since the sides have done battle at NRL level in Round 5, 2025.
While the match was a gritty one, the scoreboard read a dominant 20-nil to Cameron Ciraldo's men, with former Knight Kurt Mann celebrating his 200th match with the game-sealing try.
NRL Match Highlights: Bulldogs vs Knights - Round 5, 2025
Key Match Up: Origin Centres
While they might not be lining up against one another, Stephen Crichton and Bradman Best will be key figures in this match up.
The State of Origin teammates won the 2024 series alongside one another, both have enjoyed strong starts to the 2026 season.
Crichton of course was the key figure for the Bulldogs in their Round 1 victory in Las Vegas, kicking three goals and of course booting the winning field goal in Golden Point.
Crichton's Cool Field Goal
He has also averaged a strong 167 metres and set up two tries in the Bulldogs' undefeated start to the season.
Although Newcastle suffered a heavy defeat in Round 3 with two of their key stars in Ponga and Brown sidelined, Bradman Best has been a constant threat out wide, scoring a try and setting up a further three while averaging 164 metres.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon with a dry track, expect these two centres to wreak havoc out wide.
What They Said: Marcelo Montoya & Jaeman Salmon
Marcelo Montoya Round 4 Media
Jaeman Salmon Round 4 Media
Stat Attack via NRL.com
- The Bulldogs have won their last three games against the Knights.
- Bulldogs Captain Stephen Crichton has won seven from seven against the Knights.
- Bulldogs second-rower Jacob Preston has scored six tries in his last six games.
- Knights halfback Sandon Smith will make his 50th NRL appearance.
- Knights centre Bradman Best has scored seven tries in his last six games against the Bulldogs.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
Where to Watch
Bulldogs Members and supporters will be available to watch the match on FoxSports and streamed via Kayo.
