The Canterbury Bulldogs have rediscovered the form that saw them make last season’s grand final and will be favoured to defeat a Sydney Roosters side down on troops and confidence. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7.30pm AEST.
The Roosters have hit a brick wall after a terrific start to the season and now face a tough ask tonight against a Bulldogs side coming off a great win over Manly at Brookvale Oval.
Sydney’s defeat to the Warriors last week was by far their worst performance of the season and they will need to improve tenfold if they are a chance of upsetting the Bulldogs away from home.
The Roosters are without Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney and Michael Jennings for tonight’s encounter, while the Bulldogs are missing key duo Josh Morris and Josh Reynolds to Origin duty .
Canterbury however are playing by far the better football at the moment, in comparison to the Roosters, who have lost all structure in defence and attack over the past few weeks.
Prediction
The result of this contest could be decided in the opening 20 minutes of the match.
Expect the Bulldogs forwards to come out firing in a bid to dominate a Roosters pack that has severely struggled to get on top of the opposition in recent weeks.
In their defeat to the Warriors last week, Sydney hardly had any field position against a New Zealand pack that simply punched holes through the Roosters defence.
When the Roosters are on the back foot, their discipline goes out the window and they tend to panic in defence and attack when they are getting well out-muscled.
If the Bulldogs do manage to win the early arm wrestle, Canterbury may very well be headed for a big victory at home, with Ben Barba, Sam Kasiano, James Graham, Michael Ennis and Krisnan Inu all likely to wreck havoc.
For the Roosters to stand a chance tonight, all their key players must respect possession and brace themselves for the arm wrestle that is to come tonight.
Forwards Sonny Bill Williams, Martin Kennedy, Boyd Cordner and Luke O’Donnell need to focus on making yardage first and establishing a platform for the Roosters halves before they can think about taking chances in attack with their offloading abilities.
If the Roosters can just get back to basics and play with the type of intensity that served them so well earlier in the year, then they are a chance of causing the upset.
Recent form however suggests that the Bulldogs are well on course for another strong victory at home.
Bulldogs by 12.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
What is disappointing is that someone can do a shoulder charge, and although I was at the game so could only see the replay on the big screen and haven't seen any further replays, that the person who does it can stay on the field and the Bulldogs player was unable to return due to the concusion received. Given the focus on punching etc in the sport, I think the referees with the only option to send players off for that situation, should be allowed to at least provide a 10 min sin bin as a short term punishment if unsure. Going on report just provides the advantage to the team playing next week, and in this case, the guy who did it won't be in the team next week anyhow.
The Spectator
Roar Guru
still baffles me the persistence in starting trex instead of what made him famous, coming of the bench!!!
Andrerw
Guest
As a Sea Eagles supporter I am laughing and thanking the Bulldogs for Buying him from us. ha ha ha
The eye
Guest
Roosters didn't miss their rep.halves..there's a shock(not)
Dragons Forever
Guest
If I was a dogs supporter I'd be demanding a refund on the 600,000 waste of a man Trex. Highway robbery that fella
Alan
Roar Guru
Despite a nervous finish, the Roosters have bounced back very strongly after some below par performances to defeat the Bulldogs away from home by two points. This was a tough win b y the chooks who showcased some strong defence and strong play in the forwards to stand toe to toe with the Bulldogs pack. The Bulldogs were flat in attack tonight and never really got any momentum going tonight in the forwards. Cordner, Kennedy, O'Donnell, Mortimer, Williams and Nuuausala all superb tonight for the chooks. Back to the drawing board for the Bulldogs. Roosters meanwhile continue to cement their place inside the top four. Thanks for your company tonight and please join us tomorrow for Tigers - Raiders Bulldogs 18 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Bulldogs 18 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
Grandstand finish now. Bulldogs with 30 seconds to steal it! Bulldogs 18 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Hodkinson converts and meanwhile Kennedy is in enormous pain here for the Roosters. Its a knee injury as he tried to stop Inu who charged from dummy-half to score. Bulldogs 18 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY BULLDOGS - Inu now scores for the Bulldogs here but it may be too little too late! Bulldogs 16 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
75' - Mortimer with a low kick and he finds touch deep in Bulldogs territory. He has had a very composed game tonight Mortimer Bulldogs 12 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
74' - Barba lost possession there forward but its play on. Deflected kick now and Aubusson gathers possession for the Roosters. Poor last play option Canterbury Bulldogs 12 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
73' - Roosters with good field position here. Can they put the nail in the coffin? Mortimer with a bomb and Perrett gathers on the full Bulldogs 12 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
Well the Bulldogs could do to the Roosters what Manly did to the Bulldogs last week.... brace yourselves. 72' - Roosters will be tested now. Need to stay composed. Eastwood up to the halfway. Hodkinson with a chip kick and Barba regathers possession but his pass sails forward and over the touchline! Good play there and the Roosters hold on Bulldogs 12 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL - Hodkinson converts and the Bulldogs are alive here with under ten minutes remaining. Big finish coming up Bulldogs 12 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
TRY BULLDOGS - Kasiano with a great pass to Halatau who races in to score! Bulldogs 10 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
70' - Bulldogs win the penalty and need a try now to get back in this. They have been poor thus far tonight Bulldogs 6 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
69' - Roosters with another strong set. Mortimer with a bomb and its allowed to bounce and Sheck gathers but he is tackled on the last. Bulldogs with the changeover but they are slow and ponderous tonight Bulldogs 6 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
68' - Bulldogs get six more tackles here but they are getting well out-played by the Roosters tonight. Great signs without Maloney, Jennings and Pearce. Bulldogs on the attack as Hodkinson goes on a good run. Romelo with a grubber kick and the football goes dead. Roosters have all the answers Bulldogs 6 Roosters 20
Alan
Roar Guru
66' - Williams with a great break before finding Mortimer who is tackled! Roosters knock on soon after and the Bulldogs dodge a bullet! Williams and the Roosters tearing Canterbury apart tonight Bulldogs 6 Roosters 20