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Likely finalists the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs look to build momentum as they travel to CBUS Super Stadium to take on the struggling Gold Coast Titans. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 3:00pm AEST.
The Bulldogs will head into Round 26 needing a win to guarantee a finals spot, with a loss to the Titans and other results turning against them potentially pushing them out of the eight On the flip side, a win and some very favourable results allows them an outside chance at a top-four position.
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Des Hasler’s boys from Belmore have evidently recovered from their inexplicable four week post-Origin slump, rebounding with two wins over Parramatta and the Tigers, before losing a closely contested 21-14 battle with the Rabbitohs – one that they led for the majority of the match.
The Bulldogs have shown enough promise this year to travel deep into September, but should be cautious not to look past the Titans, with Sharks last week showing the dangers that an underdog presents.
The Titans on the other hand, seem to be so far in a hole that not even the bright glow of the Sunshine State can reach them.
After starting the season with a string of victories that saw them rocket to six wins from eight games, they have sunk to an abysmal two wins from their last 15 starts, culminating in last weeks 42-0 touch-up by the New Zealand Warriors.
Compounding their suffering is a home record of just two wins in nine games.
The Bulldogs welcome back star five eighth Josh Reynolds from his second suspension since the Origin series, and will hope he can light the spark in attack that Bulldogs have been missing.
Reynolds and Hodkinson will need to rediscover the impressive form that catapulted them into Origin if the Bulldogs are any hope of trading punches with the heavyweights come October, and Sunday is a golden chance for them to rediscover their fluidity.
The Bulldogs will lose lock forward Dale Finucane due to a one-week suspension for lifting, with fill in half Moses Mbye dropping to take his bench spot.
The Titans welcome back Luke Bailey (neck) and Dave Taylor (calf), which could add some much needed firepower and size, though they lose New South Wales and Australian forward Greg Bird.
Sunday will also mark Neil Henry’s first game as permanent head coach after signing a three-year deal mid-week.
The Titans should be chomping at the bit to send off their last remaining foundation players Luke Bailey (retirement) and Mark Minichello (Hull FC), but seem like a club who can’t wait for Mad Monday.
It is hard to see their efforts being enough to topple the strong forward pack of the Bulldogs, who should find more flare with Reynolds’ return and gather some all-important momentum heading into the finals series.
Prediction:
Bulldogs by 22 points
Join The Roar on Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
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