NRL Round 12 Match Preview: Storm Warning at Accor

Author: bulldogs.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 21 May 2026, 02:33 PM

The State of Origin period is upon us and the first task for the Bulldogs comes in the form of the Melbourne Storm this Friday night.

Both sides will be fielding teams with young guns looking to make their mark while Origin stars are on duty, with the all-important two competition points on the line as we head towards the half-way mark of the season.

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Round 12 - Round 12 - Friday 22 May

10:00 am

Bulldogs

Storm

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney

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Team Lists Get Tickets

As usual, there is plenty of team news, stats and info to unpack in our Round 12 Match Preview.

Teamlists and Team News
History vs Storm and Last Time Out
Key Match Up
What They Said
Stat Attack
Where to Watch

Teamlists and Team News

Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo welcomes back Jacob Kiraz to the side in a timeline boost following Captain Stephen Crichton's selection in the NSW Blues squad for Game I of the State of Origin series.

Josh Curran also returns to the extended bench alongside Marcelo Montoya, while young front rower Jack Underhill has maintained his place on the interchange following a solid outing on debut in Round 11.

With Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Trent Loiero on Origin duty the Storm have called in Keagan Russell-Smith at five-eighth for the second NRL game of his career while Trent Toelau starts at hooker and Cooper Clarke at lock.

Alec MacDonald is back on the bench while back-up hooker Gabriel Satrick makes his NRL debut. Moses Leo has been named on the wing despite coming off early at Magic Round with a knee injury.

Round 12 - Round 12 - Friday 22 May

10:00 am

Bulldogs

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor Tracey

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Sualauvi Faalogo
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz

Winger for Storm is number 2 Will Warbrick
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson Xerri

Centre for Storm is number 3 Jack Howarth
Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Enari Tuala

Centre for Storm is number 4 Nick Meaney
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Jonathan Sua

Winger for Storm is number 5 Moses Leo
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Keagan Russell-Smith
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan Galvin

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes

Forwards

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King

Prop for Storm is number 8 Stefano Utoikamanu
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Bailey Hayward

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Trent Toelau
Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Leo Thompson

Prop for Storm is number 10 Josh King
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Sitili Tupouniua

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Shawn Blore
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Ativalu Lisati
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Jaeman Salmon

Lock for Storm is number 13 Cooper Clarke

Interchange

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt Mann

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Gabriel Satrick
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Harry Hayes

Interchange for Storm is number 15 Alec MacDonald
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Jack Underhill

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Davvy Moale
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Alekolasimi Jones

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Stanley Huen
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Jethro Rinakama

Interchange for Storm is number 18 Joe Chan
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Marcelo Montoya

Interchange for Storm is number 19 Manaia Waitere

Reserves

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Josh Curran

Reserve for Storm is number 20 Jack Hetherington
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Sean O'Sullivan

Reserve for Storm is number 21 Josiah Pahulu
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Jed Reardon

Reserve for Storm is number 22 Preston Conn

Jacob Kiraz
Jed Reardon
Josh Curran
Marcelo Montoya
Sean O'Sullivan

Alec MacDonald
Gabriel Satrick
Jack Hetherington
Keagan Russell-Smith
Manaia Waitere
Preston Conn

Lipoi Hopoi
Stephen Crichton

Cameron Munster
Harry Grant
Trent Loiero

Match Officials

Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 5/20/2026 9:32:20 AM

History vs Storm and Last Time Out: Finals Week One, 2025

Since 1998, the Bulldogs and Storm have played one another on 48 occasions, with the Melbournians slightly ahead with 26 wins to Canterbury's 22.

The very first meeting between the two sides also marked an end of an era for the Bulldogs as they defeated the competition's newest team 8-4 in a wet and wild finale at Belmore Sports Ground.

Since then, the two clubs have had some memorable battles.

Best of Belmore: A Floodlit Finale

En route to the 2004 Premiership, the Steve Price-led side thumped the Victorians 43-18 in a critical semi-final at the Sydney Football Stadium. Ten years later, the Bulldogs were at it again in the first week of finals, stunning the Storm in a 28-4 demolition job at AAMI Park.

Last time out the two teams played a thrilling match in the first week of the 2025 finals series. The Bulldogs bravely fought throughout the contest despite a number of players succumbing to injury, eventually going down 26-18.

Needless to say the Blue and Whites will be looking to channel that same never-say-die attitude with a few names on the sidelines this weekend.

Key Match Up: Front Rowers

Leo Thompson and Josh King will be tasked alongside their State of Origin representative front rowers to pave the way for their respective sides with a number of regulars on the sidelines.

In his first season at the Bulldogs, Thompson has warmed up to the starting front row role after debuting in Round 7. He currently averages 107 metres per game, having made 12 tackle breaks and five offloads.

Highlights: Bulldogs vs Storm - 2014 Elimination Final

Melbourne veteran King - not to be confused with Canterbury's own Max - has an average of 89 metres, having made 9 tackle breaks and six offloads to his name.

Be sure to keep an eye on the men in the middle this Friday night as both sides look to get an early scalp to start the Origin period.

What They Said: Jaeman Salmon & Sean O'Sullivan

Jaeman Salmon Round 12 Media

Sean O'Sullivan Round 12 Media

Coach Media: Round 12

Stat Attack via NRL.com

The Bulldogs will play their 2000th Premiership game.
The Bulldogs will play just their fourth home game at Accor Stadium this season.
The Storm play their first game at Accor Stadium since the 2025 grand final.
Storm winger Will Warbrick has scored four tries in five games at Accor Stadium.

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