Milestone Looms for Cutler in NSW Cup Preliminary

Milestone Looms for Cutler in NSW Cup Preliminary

Canterbury-Bankstown NSW Cup captain Trent Cutler will run out for his 200th Club game in Bulldogs colours on Sunday when the reigning Premiers take on North Sydney at Leichhardt Oval for a berth in the 2011 Grand Final.

Cutler has been named at fullback in a side once again bristling with NRL quality, which will however be without the services of Jonathan Wright and Joel Romelo due to injury.

The Bulldogs enjoyed a week off after their come from behind 24-22 victory over Balmain Ryde-Eastwood in week one of this year's finals series at Belmore Oval.

Should they topple the Bears - who overcame Newtown 17-16 on Sunday to earn their spot in the Preliminary Final - the Bulldogs will qualify for their third straight NSW Cup decider, seeing them remain in the hunt for a third straight title.

The Bulldogs defeated Windsor 24-12  on Grand Final day 2010 to lift the NSW Cup trophy, while in 2009 a Bulldogs-backed Bankstown Sports side defeated Balmain 32-0 in the decider, with both matches played at ANZ Stadium.

Should they progress the Bulldogs will meet the winner of the other Preliminary Final, which will see the Auckland Vulcans take on the Cronulla Sharks at 1pm, prior to the kick off between the Bulldogs and Bears at 3pm.


NSW CUP

1. TRENT CUTLER
2. MICHAEL LETT
3. NATHAN SMITH
4. JUNIOR TIA KILIFI
5. BRYSON GOODWIN
6. BEN ROBERTS
7. JOSH REYNOLDS
8. TIM BROWNE
9. SHANE PUMIPI
10. CHRIS ARMIT
11. JAKE FOSTER
12. BRAD MORRIN
13. HARLAN ALAALATOA

INTERCHANGE:
14. DANIEL RAUICAVA
15. MARTIN TAUPAU
16. MICHAEL HODGSON
17. STEVE AZZI

COACH: JUSTIN HOLBROOK

 

Bulldogs Settled Ahead of Heavyweight Toyota Cup Clash

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have once again named a settled Toyota Cup side heading into Saturday's Preliminary Final clash with the New Zealand Warriors at AAMI Park, Melbourne.

The Bulldogs are just a win away from a Grand Final berth after overcoming the Melbourne Storm to reach the Preliminary final, scoring a narrow 22-20 victory in their semi final at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Coach Andy Patmore has made just two changes, rushing Australian Schoolboy prop David Klemmer back into the side after he recovered from injury while Chris Centrone takes the place of Sam Ahofono on the wing.

They'll need to produce another giant killing performance on Saturday in Melbourne if they're to qualify for the decider, with the Warriors finishing the year as minor premiers to add to the Toyota Cup title they won in 2010.

The Bulldogs and Warriors met at the corresponding stage last season, with the Warriors scoring a 23-16 victory over a Canterbury-Bankstown side depleted by injury.

The winner of the match will face either Cronulla or North Queensland in the 2011 Grand Final.


TOYOTA CUP

1. DANIEL ABOU-SLEIMAN
2. CHRIS CENTRONE
3. JOSH PORTLOCK
4. ED MURPHY
5. SEAN DEAVES
6. JALINE GRAHAM
7. MOSES MBYE
8. DAVID KLEMMER
9. JOSH GILL
10. JAKE FINN
11. TUPOU SOPOAGA
12. JOSH JACKSON
13. DALE FINUCANE [C]

INTERCHANGE
14. JAKE FITZPATRICK
15. LIONEL O'MALLY
16. JUDAH LAVULO
19. PAUL CARTER
22. MITCHELL McMAHON

COACH: ANDREW PATMORE