Bulldogs v Eels preview

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Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Parramatta Eels Monday 4:00pm at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park / Wanngal

We hail our old friend Charlie Boy as the King's Birthday brings us the gift of arguably the biggest NRL derby in the competition - the Canterbury Bulldogs play the Parramatta Eels in front of an expected crowd of 60,000 people at Accor Stadium to finish Round 14.

There are $10 tickets to Accor Stadium as the Bulldogs open the floodgates for a hostile environment on the greatest stage in Rugby League. Rumours of yet another 60,000 fans on a public holiday swirl, as Canterbury come refreshed to try and send the Eels finals hopes swimming down the Parramatta river. 

The Bulldogs are coming off a Round 13 bye, with the ladder leaders taking the time to heal up ahead of a run that includes five of the next six games at either Accor or Commbank Stadium… and their last bye (round 16). Prior to the bye, the Dogs got pummelled in the wet by a clinical Dolphins outfit, 44-8. Having been down 14-8 at half time, you'd be mistaken to believe that the Dogs sent out their Jersey Flegg side in the second half of that game as the Dolphins put the Dogs attack back in the kennel. 

What followed was the media frenzy that last week saw Lachlan Galvin sign with Canterbury - after it was leaked to the media that he was at Dogs training over their bye week. Not currently in the run on side, Galvin will be looking to play against the side who for months, were seen as the box seat contenders for his services in 2026…

The Parramatta Eels were so close, yet so far against the reigning premiers at Commbank last week, going down 18-10 in a game that arguably, they should have won. Jordan Samrani got falconed by Isaiah Iongi with a wide open line, while Jack Williams pulled an Isabelle Kelly and stopped himself from scoring with his own arm as the Eels just couldn't finish the Panthers off. 

Mitch Moses and Zac Lomax carried their Origin form into last weeks game and will look to drag the Eels away from the bottom of the ladder - now two wins from the eight and only 16th on points differential. They'll need every little bit of magic from their stars as they look to topple the ladder leading Bulldogs this week. 

The Bulldogs receive plenty of bark back into the line up this week - their three origin stars (Stephen Crichton, Max King, Kurt Mann) all return to the starting side while Jacob Kiraz and Daniel Suluka-Fifita both return from injury. Talk of the town, Lachlan Galvin is named in the 23 and could come into the squad on game day but is rumoured to play NSW Cup first as he adjusts to the Bulldogs system. 

The Eels welcome back Will Penisini for what is a do or die clash, with Jordan Samrani heading to the bench and youngster Joash Papalii named as 18th man. At this point, Luca Moretti is named on the bench but we won't be surprised to see him start over Kelma Tuilagi come Monday. 

Last meeting: Round 3 2025 - Eels 8 Bulldogs 16

Who to watch: Jacob Kiraz returns from injury and immediately strikes fear into all opposition players. His ability to break tackles from nowhere, added in with a quick acceleration and the ability to score from just about anywhere, bodes poorly for everyone. He lines up against former teammate Josh Addo-Carr, who can outrun Kiraz… but physically, it makes for a very long afternoon on the edge. 

On the other wing, Zac Lomax has been the signing of the season for the Eels, if not the competition. Averaging 204 running metres, four tackle busts and a couple of offloads a game, Lomax has brought a new shining light to what was a dull attack in 2024. In the previous game against the Dogs this season, Lomax ran for 303 metres, had nine tackle busts and a line break (albeit playing as a centre). Now on the wing and against Marcelo Montoya, the Eels winger will need everything he has to have as much of an impact as he did last time out.

Favourite: Canterbury are resounding favourites.

My tip: Forgive the repeated opening line from my own preview of Eels-Manly two weeks ago… ut this is a game of head versus heart - the heart really would love to see Parramatta pull themselves up off the canvas to ensure that they stay off the bottom of the ladder this week. A win would see the Eels be within a game of the top eight, but it seems to be wishful thinking against a rejuvenated Bulldogs side in 2025. If Lachlan Galvin plays, I'd argue that the Eels will target him - but his inclusion won't affect the end result. Bulldogs by 2.

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Josh Curran 13. Kurt Mann 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Harry Hayes 16. Lipoi Hopoi 17. Kurtis Morrin 19. Jake Turpin 20. Blake Wilson 21. Samuel Hughes 22. Blake Taaffe 23. Lachlan Galvin

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J'maine Hopgood 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Jordan Samrani 18. Joash Papali'i 19. Matt Doorey 20. Joey Lussick 21. Dean Hawkins 22. Samuel Loizou

Referees: Gerard Sutton; Sideline Officials: Chris Sutton, Matt Noyen; Video Referees: Grant Atkins;