Bulldogs v Roosters preview

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Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Sydney Roosters Saturday 5:30pm at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

An off-season spending spree might have been a reason for optimism in Belmore, but if early season form is anything to go by, the Bulldogs are very much a work in progress.

And at this stage, until Reed Mahoney and Viliame Kikau arrive next year, Canterbury-Bankstown will remain in wooden spoon contention as opposed to contending for a top-eight spot.

The Bulldogs, as they did the week prior against South Sydney, showed promising signs early in their game with Brisbane before slipping away dramatically in the closing stages.

It meant that Trent Barrett's men have just the one win to their name in 2022 - a close call against the Cowboys.

Pressure continues to mount on Barrett, who likely only has this season to prove that he is the coach to take the Bulldogs forward and get the most out of the new additions.

At the moment though, Barrett has done little to quell the concerns and a loss on Saturday will see his record while at the club drop to 4-32.

That would, according to AAP, see Barrett match foundation coach Ed Courtney's 12.5 per cent record while in charge of the Bulldogs in 1935.

Ava Seumanufagai, Brent Naden and Jake Averillo all return in a boost, although exciting youngster Jacob Kiraz drops out, no longer available to be selected.

On the other side of the field is a Roosters side that in all honesty has been just as disappointing as the Bulldogs.

Expectations were high of the Roosters this season, with many tipping the Tricolours to be a strong premiership threat but early on they have looked anything but.

Their wins have been hardly convincing outside of a 28-4 victory over North Queensland and even then the Roosters benefited from three sin-bins.

Last week only further raised doubts over the Roosters' premiership credentials, falling 14-12 in an upset defeat to the Dragons.

Daniel Tupou is out suspended this week, replaced on the wing by Kevin Naiqama.

While not at risk of dropping out of the top eight just yet, the Roosters face the Panthers, Eels, Sharks and Storm (all current top-four sides) in their next seven games after the Bulldogs clash.

So, they don't need to just win on Saturday, they need to make a statement and build some momentum with an eye towards those games.

Last meeting: Round 17 2021 - Bulldogs 16 Roosters 22

Who to watch: The Roosters boast one of the best forward packs in the league on paper but that is one area the Bulldogs can more than match them on their best day. And new recruit Tevita Pangai Junior could be the man to spark an upset on Saturday. Not only does Pangai Junior's offloads make him a threat in attack, he also has the aggressive streak in him to take it to the Roosters pack and lift the intensity. You can expect a strong response early from the Roosters after last week's shock defeat and it is important Pangai Junior leads from the front in inspiring a Bulldogs response.

The Roosters have a clear advantage this week when it comes to strike out wide, with Joey Manu the main man to shut down on Saturday. Manu had six tackle busts, three linebreaks and over 160 run metres in last week's defeat to the Dragons, building on what has been an impressive opening to the 2022 season for him. Given the Bulldogs' defensive vulnerabilities on the edge, Manu could be in for a field day.

The favourite: Despite a last-start defeat, the Roosters are strong favourites.

My tip: The fact that the Roosters lost last week spells trouble for the Bulldogs. It will have Trent Robinson demanding an immediate response and Barrett's troops will be on the wrong end of it. Roosters by 36.

1. Matt Dufty 21. Jayden Okunbor 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Jake Averillo 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Luke Thompson 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Corey Waddell 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 16. Max King 14. Bailey Biondi-Odo 15. Joe Stimson 17. Ava Seumanufagai 23. Billy Tsikrikas 20. Jackson Topine

1. James Tedesco 2. Kevin Naiqama 22. Adam Keighran 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Sam Walker 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Nat Butcher 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho 18. Lachlan Lam

Referees: Ben Cummins; Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski; Video Referees: Adam Gee;