Match Centre

GAME SET BINGO. Canterbury with a penalty after an Eels escort. The penalty is 10m to the left oft the posts. Crichton will go for goal and the Bulldogs will collect the two competition points.

The BULLDOGS chant goes up around the Eels' home ground as Canterbury field the Eels' last tackle kick and work it away from their own end. They're making metres easier than Parramatta at this point.

Sexton's last tackle kick is a long one, and Parramatta will now have the ball starting on their own 20m. Every player on the field looks gassed.

Parramatta's last tackle option ends up with Montoya fielding the ball deep inside his own half. Canterbury works it away.

Hayward busts up the guts, finds Tupuoniua who bounces away from several defenders before he's dragged down, but Canterbury hand it over via a kick next play. Eels deep in their own half.

An errant pass and Canterbury have the ball through Wilson. Too quick with the hands from Parramatta.

Jaeman Salmon escorts Lomax and the challenge is unsuccessful. Parramatta with a full set 12m from the Bulldogs line here.

PENALTY EELS: A high ball from Brown is knocked on backwards by the Bulldogs but the referee has found an obstruction it seems. The Bulldogs challenge it.

25 minutes without a point scored... six to go...

Huge high ball from Hawkins on the last, Tracey takes it but is subject to a huge tackle. Rumbled by Zac Lomax. Dogs have it inside their own half.

An odd drop-out, nearly 20m diagonally across field and Canterbury have it without any contest... but then they lose it one play later with Sitili Tupouniua spilling the ball. Parra off the hook AGAIN.

DROP OUT EELS: Sexton puts up a high ball on the last, Lomax fields it one metre out and is buried into the in-goal.

Some disjointed Eels attack ten metres inside Canterbury's half toward the end of the set and they turn it over. Canterbury now with it and some renewed energy.

Challenge unsuccessful, Canterbury handover. Eels lose their only challenge.

Parra make a truckload of metres off the penalty set and on the last, the ball goes high from Hawkins, Lomax flies through and knocks it on, then Canterbury lose it too. Lomax is challenging it though.

NO TRY and an Eels penalty, Tupouniua was offside and there was no obstruction by Hawkins. Relief for the hosts.

BUNKER. Canterbury force a drop-out but we're checking if there was a player taken out in which case we could have a penalty try for the visitors.

A double knock on after a Toby Sexton bomb troubles the Eels' back men, so the visitors will get some attacking footy.

Parramatta look to expose the Bulldogs down the left but the inside ball is loose and Wilson comes up with it for Canterbury. Finally some ball not in their own 20m!

CANTERBURY HOLD ON! Ryley Smith does a short range low kick but Mahoney takes possession.

A last-tackle bomb from Hawkins... spilled by Canterbury winger Marcelo Montoya. Full set for the Eels...

Crichton pulls off an excellent cover tackle on the Eels' left edge as they look to the ball to Addo-Carr's wing.

Dire metreage from the Bulldogs, they don't even crack their own 30m. Sexton has to kick long and it's taken on the full by Lomax, and the first tackle is just about on halfway!

Parramatta making metres at will against a tiring Bulldogs defence.

A set later and the referee is asking Kitione Kautoga to leave for a HIA.

Time off, Kautoga is down clutching his head. It looks like Curran's legs accidentally took him out while Curran was making a tackle on another player. Should be play on here and it is.

ERROR EELS: An Parramatta error mid set and the Bulldogs have a scrum on their own 30m.

PENALTY EELS: A few more end to end sets and then Canterbury are pinged for a high tackle, with Sexton's arm bouncing up and hitting the opponent in the face.

Both sides get through their sets after the Addo-Carr try.

PENALTY EELS: Connor Tracey has taken Jordan Samrani high as the latter tried cutting in field off a Lomax break. Full set for Parramatta from 15m out, and Tracey is ON REPORT.

PENALTY EELS: Canterbury's markers weren't square and the hosts get a free ride into the 'Dogs half.

ERROR BULLDOGS: Sitili Tupouniua spills it carrying it toward the line and the Eels snap it up and get to working it off their own end.

PENALTY CANTERBURY: A dangerous throw on Kurt Mann from Joey Lussick. It's about 35m from the Canterbury line. Lussick is ON REPORT. The 'Dogs go for touch and have a full set starting 20m out...

End to end stuff to start the half, both sides making solid metreage to about halfway then getting to their kick.

We're underway and Canterbury are first with the ball.

"Misconduct penalty" earlier against J Curran was reportedly because the 'Dogs prop was impersonating the ref, shouting "off, off off" at Parra forward Matt Doorey as the ref usually would.

Wyatt Raymond deemed Curran's actions "not in the spirit of the game" #NRLEelsBulldogs

— League Unlimited - NRL and rugby league (@LeagueUnlimited) March 23, 2025

Halftime - the Eels try some entertaining stuff as the clock winds down but Canterbury have it covered after an aerial kick and bat it dead. Won't be time to restart.

Parramatta move numbers to the left and it goes straight over the sideline, Canterbury are off the hook with a minute remaining.

Canterbury have conceded a penalty for misconduct by Josh Curran in their own half. Big chance for the hosts to narrow the score.

Samrani with a break for the Eels... but then loses it as he gets up and Canterbury now have it 40m from the Eels' line.

Paulo has passed his HIA and can return to the field.

It's a penalty, Shaun Lane has put a Crusher Tackle on Crichton. Dogs back in attacking territory now.

Time off with Stephen Crichton seemingly injured.

Long kick from Hayward and Iongi is forced to retrieve it as its not rolling dead - he's tackled just five metres from his own line.

Last tackle from Parra and Hawkins' cross-field kick is back in the Eels' hands but then Xerri makes the tackle and its a turnover.

Junior Paulo went off after that try, which he helped set up. He's getting a HIA.

ERROR BULLDOGS: Canterbury mess things up again, Blake Wilson has it jolted out in a tackle from Hopgood and the Eels have it 25m out from a scrum feed.

ERROR BULLDOGS: Too quick with the passing to the right and Wilson lets it go behind him before fluffing his lines trying to keep it in.

Canterbury pick up a set restart and with the ensuring set surge to the Eels line, then it's an Eels error from Kitione Kautoga after trying to scoop up a lose ball. More pressure to come.

PENALTY BULLDOGS: Eels inside the 10 this time, so Canterbury get the piggyback out of danger.

ERROR EELS: Parramatta quick hands andddddd Samrani loses it with the line begging. This club must be cursed.

DROP OUT BULLDOGS: A Dylan Brown cross-field kick is taken comfortably by Montoya but he has take the tackle in-goal. Eels will get it back.

PENALTY EELS: Canterbury inside the 10 early in the set, helping Parramatta up and out of danger.

ERROR EELS: The blue and gold can't catch a break. Lussick throws a hospital pass to Jack Williams who spills it around halfway.

HUGE moment. Josh Addo-Carr ruled to have lost the ball in a heavy tackle with his former teammates ragdolling him.

End of set kick is from inside the 40m.... but it goes into touch JUST short of the 20m line! Canterbury will have it.

Kickoff and Parramatta have it first up!

Parramatta are next out and they're donning a 1986 heritage jersey today. Great vibes at a packed Commbank. Let's go!

Canterbury are making their way out onto the Commbank Stadium wearing their home jersey - which is a replica remake of their 2004 strip which proved so popular in 2024.

Canterbury have no ins or outs, but they have opted to start Salmon at lock; Tupouniua drops to the bench.

A few changes for the hosts. Brendan Hands and Sean Russell drop out, Josh Addo-Carr makes his club debut while Joey Lussick comes into the team. Elsewhere, Joe Ofahengaue drops to the bench with Williams shifting to prop and Kautoga starting in the back row.

Sunday arvo footy and it's two classic rivals facing off at Western Sydney Stadium.