The NRL's Women In League Round sees the Bulldogs face off against the Wests Tigers in a match that will have seismic implications for both teams' seasons.
After a disappointing outing last week, the Bulldogs will be out to reverse their fortunes as the race to the finals heats up against a desperate Tigers team with their season on life support.
In recent years, there has been plenty of tension in this reignited rivalry, and you can expect nothing less in this Saturday night showdown.
Download Your 2026 NRL Team Poster here!
Match: Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
Round 20 -
home Team
Bulldogs
11th Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
13th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
As usual, there is plenty of team news, stats and info to unpack in our Round 20 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
Sean O'Sullivan takes over at five-eighth from Stephen Crichton, who lost feeling in his arm and was taken from the field on a medicab last Saturday. Crichton has been listed in the reserves along with Viliame Kikau, who is nearing a return from a pectoral injury suffered in Round 8. Star back-rower Jacob Preston is back in the starting side after playing 60 minutes off the bench last week in his returning from a broken arm. Josh Curran slides to the bench. Centre Enari Tuala returns after missing the Raiders game due to illness so Bronson Xerri makes way.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor TraceyFullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Jahream Bula
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob KirazWinger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva
-
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Matt BurtonCentre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Heamasi Makasini
-
Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Enari TualaCentre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Starford To'a
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Jethro RinakamaWinger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Jeral Skelton
-
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Sean O'SullivanFive-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jarome Luai
-
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan GalvinHalfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Adam Doueihi
Forwards
-
Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max KingProp for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May
-
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Bailey HaywardHooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jared Haywood
-
Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Leo ThompsonProp for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole
-
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Jaeman Salmon2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Samuela Fainu
-
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Sione Fainu
-
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Harry HayesLock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal
Interchange
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kurt MannInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Latu Fainu
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Josh CurranInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Ethan Roberts
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Jack UnderhillInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Lipoi HopoiInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Josese Lanyon
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 19 Marcelo MontoyaInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Faaletino Tavana
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Gordon Chan Kum TongInterchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Kit Laulilii
Reserves
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 21 Viliame KikauReserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Junior Tupou
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 22 Jed ReardonReserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Javon Andrews
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 23 Stephen CrichtonReserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Apisai Koroisau
Bulldogs Ins
- Enari Tuala
- Gordon Chan Kum Tong
- Jed Reardon
- Marcelo Montoya
- Viliame Kikau
Wests Tigers Ins
- Apisai Koroisau
- Ethan Roberts
- Javon Andrews
- Junior Tupou
- Kit Laulilii
Bulldogs Outs
- Alekolasimi Jones
- Bronson Xerri
Wests Tigers Ins
- Bunty Afoa
- Tony Sukkar
Match Officials
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
Tigers skipper Api Koroisau is listed among the reserves as he looks to return from a pectoral injury that kept him out of the Warriors game. After making his NRL debut last week, Jared Haywood has been named at hooker, with Josese Lanyon on the bench. Fonua Pole starts at prop in place of the suspended Bunty Afoa. The new face on the bench is young forward Ethan Roberts, who made his NRL debut against Manly in Round 11.
History vs Tigers and Last Time Out: Round 13, 2026
The Bulldogs hold a slight edge over the Tigers since their first meeting in 2000, with 27 wins from 46 match ups with a 58% win rate.
1988 Grand Final Highlights: Bulldogs vs Tigers
Prior to the new millennium, the Bulldogs held strong rivalries against both Western Suburbs and Balmain, with the highlight being the 1988 Grand Final victory over the Tigers in Phil Gould's first Premiership win.
Last time out was a closely-fought 22-16 defeat at CommBank Stadium, with the Bulldogs' late comeback thwarted in a controversial circumstances back in Round 13.
With momentum and a sea of Blue on their side, the Bulldogs will be aiming to reverse the result when they meet once again on Saturday night.
Key Match Up: The Returning Second Rowers
Both blockbusting second rowers made their return after long injury layoffs last round, and you can bet that they will be going at one another throughout the full 80 this week.
Jacob Preston punched out a solid 60-minute stint in his first game back since Round 12. In his twelve matches this year, Preston has scored four tries, made nine line breaks, offloaded five times and put up an impressive 94.8% tackle efficiency, with his absence making a massive difference to the Bulldogs' potency out wide.
Preston Goes Over Untouched!
His opposite in Fainu has not only had an equally interrupted season, but is just as important to his own team. With three tries, four line breaks, twelve offloads and a 94.6% tackle efficiency in his nine matches, he'll be key in getting the Tigers to the try line in this contest.
With State of Origin now behind us, the focus is now solely on club footy, and for the Bulldogs and Tigers, it begins with two of the best backrowers in the business this week.
What They Said: Jacob Preston & Matt Burton
Jacob Preston Round 20 Media
Matt Burton Round 20 Media
Stat Attack via NRL.com
- The Bulldogs have won three of their last four games at Accor Stadium.
- Bulldogs winger Jethro Rinakama has scored five tries in his last five games.
- Bulldogs Matt Burton, Enari Tuala and Kurt Mann require one try for 50 career tries.
- Wests Tigers have lost their last 10 games at Accor Stadium.
- Tigers winger and former Bulldog Jeral Skelton has scored four tries in two games against his old side.
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.
