NRL Round 13 Match Preview: Paws Out in Tigertown

Author: bulldogs.com.au
Timestamp: Thu 28 May 2026, 11:56 AM

One of the spiciest rivalries from the last twelve months will make a return this Saturday night when the Bulldogs head to CommBank Stadium to take on the Wests Tigers in another all-important clash.

The Bulldogs will be eager to capitalise on their breakout victory against Melbourne last Friday, while the wounded Tigers welcome back a few key troops as they aim to snap a three-game losing streak.

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Round 13 - Round 13 - Saturday 30 May

7:30 am

Wests Tigers

Bulldogs

Venue: CommBank 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 13 Match Preview.

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

Teamlists and Team News

Jacob Kiraz retains the No.1 jersey after a starring role at fullback in his return from injury last week. The loss of back-rower Jacob Preston (arm) sees Jaeman Salmon move to the second row and Harry Hayes starts at lock. Josh Curran is back in the NRL after playing NSW Cup last week and is joined on the by last week's debutant Jed Reardon and third-gamer Jack Underhill. Fullback Connor Tracey has been named on the extended bench in a bid to return from a hamstring injury. Captain Stephen Crichton has been named on the extended bench and will be monitored post-Origin while fellow Blue Matt Burton has been named in the starting side.

Fullback Jahream Bula has been named to return after three games out with a shoulder injury while skipper Api Koroisau (suspension), lock Alex Twal (knee) and outside back Heamasi Makasini (foot) are also back on deck. Sunia Turuva and Makasini are the new centres with Taylan May (shoulder) and Patrick Herbert (suspension) both missing. Faaletino Tavana comes in on the wing in place of Luke Laulilii while Latu Fainu and Alex Seyfarth move to the interchange to make way for Koroisau and Twal.

Round 13 - Round 13 - Saturday 30 May

7:30 am

Wests Tigers

Bulldogs

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Jacob Kiraz
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Jeral Skelton

Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jethro Rinakama
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Sunia Turuva

Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson Xerri
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Heamasi Makasini

Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Enari Tuala
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Faaletino Tavana

Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Marcelo Montoya
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jarome Luai

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jock Madden

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan Galvin

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Apisai Koroisau

Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Kurt Mann
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole

Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Leo Thompson
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Sione Fainu

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Sitili Tupouniua
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jaeman Salmon
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Harry Hayes

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Latu Fainu

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Bailey Hayward
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Alex Seyfarth

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Jed Reardon
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Royce Hunt

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Jack Underhill
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Charlie Murray

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Josh Curran
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Mavrik Geyer

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Lipoi Hopoi
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Starford To'a

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Jonathan Sua

Reserves

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Tristan Hope

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Sean O'Sullivan
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Ethan Roberts

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Connor Tracey
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Heath Mason

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Stephen Crichton

Alex Twal
Apisai Koroisau
Charlie Murray
Faaletino Tavana
Heamasi Makasini
Jahream Bula
Starford To'a

Connor Tracey
Jonathan Sua
Josh Curran
Lipoi Hopoi
Stephen Crichton

Bunty Afoa
Luke Laulilii
Patrick Herbert
Taylan May

Alekolasimi Jones
Jacob Preston

Match Officials

Referee: Peter Gough
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein

Last updated: 5/26/2026 7:52:20 AM

History vs Tigers and Last Time Out: Round 22, 2025

Since 2000, the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers have faced off on 45 occasions, with the Blue and Whites holding the ledger with 27 wins.

Daryl Halligan's boot kicked the Bulldogs to a 22-14 victory in their very first meeting in Round 11 of the 2000 season, with a more comprehensive 36-26 win later that year.

Classic Match: Bulldogs v Wests Tigers - Round 2, 2006

Round 2 of the 2006 season saw a Hazem El Masri masterclass, with the sharpshooter winger scoring four tries and booting 9 goals to claim a 32-point haul in the 47-12 demolition.

In 2015 it was Moses Mbye who kicked Canterbury to victory in a nail-biting 25-24 win, and few could forget the 38-nil thumping in the final round of the 2021 season up at Moreton Daily Stadium in Redcliffe in Will Hopoate's final NRL match.

Last time out was a dour affair at CommBank Stadium, with the Tigers claiming a 28-14 win in soggy conditions - no doubt Cameron Ciraldo's men will be out to avenge that defeat this time around.

Key Match Up: Matt Burton vs Jarome Luai

After arguably the most impressive three-minute stint in State of Origin history, Matt Burton is set to return to clubland in a bid to guide the Bulldogs to victory in a match that is set to be just as hostile as Wednesday night's thriller.

In the opposite corner is his former Panthers teammate Jarome Luai, who will be tasked with spearheading the Tigers back into the winner's circle after a treble of heavy defeats.

Thankfully for Bulldogs Members and supporters, Burton has been warming nicely into the mid-part of the season in fine fashion, especially in recent weeks.

Burton Goes Through Untouched!

While he has scored three tries, forced six drop outs and set up three tries in his 10 matches so far, his most impressive metric by far is his whopping average of 125 metres.

Needless to say, when Burto's in a running mood, the Bulldogs get in the mood for scoring points.

Meanwhile, Luai has had a rollercoaster season featuring in just seven matches for the Tigers, having scored a try, set up eight and forced four drop outs.

Forgetting the numbers, if there's one player that can galvanise the Tigers in a heated contest, it's Luai - the Bulldogs will need to keep a close eye on the Tigers' no.6.