The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs face one of the biggest tests of the season when they face the high-flying Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in a Saturday night showdown at Accor Stadium.
Fresh off the bye, the Bulldogs will be out to prove that their Round 6 victory over the Penrith Panthers wasn't just a fluke, and that they can duke it out with the big guns of the competition as the makeup of the top eight begins to solidify.
Meanwhile, Manly welcome back their captain in a big boost as they look to continue the form that has taken them into the top four.
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Match: Bulldogs v Sea Eagles
Round 16 -
home Team
Bulldogs
12th Position
away Team
Sea Eagles
3rd Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
As usual, there is plenty of team news, stats and info to unpack in our Round 16 Match Preview.
- Teamlists and Team News
- History vs Sea Eagles and Last Time Out
- Key Match Up
- What They Said
- Stat Attack
- Where to Watch
Teamlists and Team News
Skipper Stephen Crichton has been named to play despite a shoulder injury ruling him out of Origin Two. Kurt Mann (ear) returns at hooker so Bailey Hayward reverts to the bench alongside Jed Reardon, Jack Underhill, Josh Curran, Jethro Rinakama and potential NRL debutant Logan Spinks, who has played 29 NSW Cup games in the past three seasons and also featured in the Pre-Season Challenge in February.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor TraceyFullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Tom Trbojevic
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob KirazWinger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Bronson XerriCentre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
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Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Stephen CrichtonCentre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
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Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Enari TualaWinger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
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Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt BurtonFive-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
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Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan GalvinHalfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
Forwards
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingProp for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
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Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Kurt MannHooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Brandon Wakeham
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Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Sea Eagles is number 10 Kobe Hetherington
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Sitili Tupouniua2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
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2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jaeman Salmon2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
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Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Harry HayesLock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Bailey HaywardInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Jake Simpkin
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Jed ReardonInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan Brown
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Jack UnderhillInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Ethan Bullemor
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Josh CurranInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Simione Laiafi
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Jethro RinakamaInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Josh Feledy
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Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Logan SpinksInterchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Joey Walsh
Reserves
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Lipoi HopoiReserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Hugo Hart
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Alex ContiReserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Blake Wilson
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Reserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Alekolasimi JonesReserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Jackson Shereb
Bulldogs Ins
- Alekolasimi Jones
- Alex Conti
- Kurt Mann
- Logan Spinks
Sea Eagles Ins
- Blake Wilson
- Ethan Bullemor
- Hugo Hart
- Tom Trbojevic
Bulldogs Outs
- Sean O'Sullivan
Sea Eagles Ins
- Clayton Faulalo
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
A huge in for the Sea Eagles with Tom Trbojevic named to return at fullback after seven games out with a hamstring injury. Clayton Faulalo, who did an outstanding job filling in at fullback, suffered a hamstring injury in Round 14 against Souths. Blues centre Tolu Koula has been named to play on Saturday night. Ethan Bullemor returns on the interchange after missing Round 14 due to a head knock suffered at training in the lead-up to that match.
History vs Sea Eagles and Last Time Out: Round 21, 2025
The Bulldogs and Sea Eagles have been doing battle since 1947, with both clubs enjoying success across 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, proving to be two of the powerhouses of the competition.
Manly hold the ledger in the 140 matches played between the two sides at NRL level with 75 wins, however the Bulldogs have the arguably the most important victory between the two - the 1995 ARL Grand Final - to their name.
On that occasion, the 6th-placed Bulldogs pulled off one of the greatest underdog stories in the code's history, toppling runaway Minor Premiers Manly in a 17-4 shutout at the Sydney Football Stadium to capture the Club's seventh Premiership.
There was plenty of reminiscing on that match the last time out against the Sea Eagles too, as the Blue and Whites scored a 42-4 thumping in the 30-year anniversary celebration of the '95 Grand Final victory at Allianz Stadium.
NRL Match Highlights: Bulldogs vs Sea Eagles - Round 21, 2025
Key Match Up: Origin Teammates Take Centre Stage
The biggest news from the match might be the return of Tom Trbojevic for Manly, but it's the centre battle between Stephen Crichton and Toluta'u Koula that is set to ignite this match.
Just weeks after pairing up in the State of Origin arena for the very first time, Crichton and Koula will go head-to-head in this all-important mid-season battle.
Crichton has had an inconsistent start to the season with an injury-interrupted campaign so far. Still, he has managed to score three tries in his ten matches, along with as many line breaks and an average of 133 metres.
Captain Critta Delivers!
He's been busy in defence with 110 tackles this season at a solid 84% efficiency, while proving a game-winner with the unforgettable field goal in Las Vegas as well as scoring a try and booting the winning penalty goal against Parramatta on the King's Birthday.
Koula has been a revelation for Manly this season with five tries, 180 metres on average as well as a similar 84% tackle efficiency and deputising at fullback when required.
Set to line up directly against one another this week, keep an eye on these two Blues to get the edge over one another on Saturday night.
What They Said: Kurt Mann, Jack Underhill & Jed Reardon
Kurt Mann Round 16 Media
Jack Underhill Round 16 Media
Jed Reardon Round 16 Media
Stat Attack via NRL.com
- The Bulldogs have won three of their last four games at Accor Stadium.
- Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri has scored four tries in five games against the Sea Eagles.
- Bulldogs second-rower Sitili Tupouniua has scored four tries in his last five games at Accor Stadium.
- Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic has scored 14 tries in his last 11 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, or stream via Kayo.
