Hodkinson Named To Play in beyondblue Cup

Hodkinson Named To Play in beyondblue Cup

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have named halfback Trent Hodkinson to play in Saturday's beyondblue Cup match against the Newcastle Knights at ANZ Stadium.

Scans yesterday confirmed Hodkinson suffered a badly corked calf muscle when caught awkwardly in a tackle shortly before half time in Sunday's 27-16 loss to Manly at Brookvale Oval.

Coach Jim Dymock has named Hodkinson to play against the Knights, with treatment of his injury ongoing.

Hooker turned five eighth Joel Romelo will line up alongside Hodkinson for a second straight week, with Kris Keating named on the interchange bench, while Gary Warburton has retained the interchange spot he held against the Sea Eagles after Dene Halatau was injured in the team's final training session on Saturday.

David Stagg, who took Halatau's run on spot post-injury, has retained the 13 jersey for the clash with the Knights.

The beyondblue Cup aims to raise awareness of depression, anxiety and related drug and alcohol problems in the community, as well as to reduce the associated stigma of these conditions within the NRL community.

The Bulldogs and Knights first played off for the Cup in round one of the 2010 season, with the Knights emerging victorious on that occasion by 20-16.

Around one million Australian adults live with depression and more than two million have an anxiety disorder. By partnering with beyondblue, the Bulldogs aim to encourage people to talk about depression and anxiety and to seek help.

beyondblue volunteers will be at the gates at the game, as well as roaming the Stadium, handing out wristbands and beyondblue information.

A massive 16 by 12 metre beyondblue jersey will be carried onto the field before and after the game, as a strong visual reminder that depression and anxiety disorders cannot be ignored.

For more information, or to get help, visit www.beyondblue.org.au.

The Bulldogs NRL side is as follows:

NRL

1. BEN BARBA
2. STEVE TURNER
3. JOSH MORRIS
4. JAMAL IDRIS
5. JONATHAN WRIGHT
6. JOEL ROMELO
7. TRENT HODKINSON
8. AIDEN TOLMAN
9. JOSH REYNOLDS
10. SAM KASIANO
11. FRANK PRITCHARD
12. ANDREW RYAN [C]
13. DAVID STAGG

INTERCHANGE
14. GREG EASTWOOD
15. MICKEY PAEA
16. GARY WARBURTON
17. KRIS KEATING

COACH: JIM DYMOCK

Lafai Out, Portlock In for Toyota Cup

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have called Josh Portlock into their Toyota Cup starting side with Tim Lafai to undergo shoulder surgery this week that will rule him out for the remainder of the season.

Lafai, who has played eight NRL matches as well as being a stand out for the Toyota Cup side this year, will go in for an operation on Thursday.

It gives Portlock, who joined the Bulldogs mid-season from Manly, the opportunity to lock down a spot in the starting side with the Toyota Cup finals just two weeks away.

The other new face in the side named is Moses Mbye, who announced his arrival at Toyota Cup level by scoring two tries inside the first 12 minutes of play against Manly after being elevated to the starting halfback's position by coach Andy Patmore in the lead up to the match.

After an indifferent six weeks, the Bulldogs have returned to form with a bang in their past two encounters, beating Cronulla 48-16 and Manly 52-0 to shore up sixth place on the Toyota Cup ladder.

The Bulldogs Toyota Cup side is as follows:

TOYOTA CUP

1. DANIEL ABOU-SLEIMAN
2. SAM AHOFONO
3. JOSH PORTLOCK
4. ED MURPHY
5. SEAN DEAVES
6. SAMISONI LANGI
7. MOSES MBYE
8. JUDAH LAVULO
9. LIONEL O'MALLY
10. JAKE FINN
11. PAUL CARTER
12. JOSH JACKSON
13. DALE FINUCANE [C]

INTERCHANGE
14. JAKE FITZPATRICK
16. LEILANI LATU
17. TUPOU SOPOAGA
19. MITCHELL McMAHON
22. JOSH GILL

COACH: ANDREW PATMORE

 

Dogs One Win Away From NSW Cup Minor Premiership

 

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will secure the NSW Cup minor premiership if they defeat fourth placed Newtown on Saturday at Henson Park.

 

Coach Justin Holbrook has once again named a strong side following on from the weekend's 39-28 defeat of the Auckland Vulcans at The Crest.

 

The victory moved the defending premiers onto 38 competition points, three clear of second placed Cronulla and four ahead of the Vulcans with two rounds left to play.

 

It also came as the Bulldogs Club was confirmed as the winner of the Flowers Memorial Pennant - the NSWRL Club Championship - for a third straight year.

 

The Pennant will be presented to the Bulldogs on Grand Final Day, 2 October, at ANZ Stadium.

 

The Dogs take on the Jets as part of a top four double header at Henson Park, with the 3pm fixture between the two teams following on from a clash between the Sharks and Vulcans at 1pm.

 

The NSW Cup side to play the Jets is as follows:

 

NSW CUP

1. MICHAEL LETT

2. JUNIOR TIA KILIFI

3. NATHAN SMITH

4. DANIEL RAUICAVA

5. BRYSON GOODWIN

6. BEN ROBERTS

7. TRENT CUTLER

8. TIM BROWNE

9. SHANE PUMIPI

10. MICHAEL HODGSON

11. JAKE FOSTER

12. GRANT MILLINGTON

13. HARLAN ALAALATOA

INTERCHANGE

14. BRAD MORRIN

15. CONRAD TAAKIMOEAKA

16. STEVE AZZI

17. DEAN McGLINCHEY

19. TRAVIS ROCHE

COACH: JUSTIN HOLBROOK