Canterbury Bulldogs vs Cronulla Sharks Preview & Prediction | 2025 NRL | Regular Season
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Accor Stadium will host a potential finals preview as the Canterbury Bulldogs face a Cronulla Sharks team fighting for a top four berth.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / Australia – Foxtel / US – Some matches are televised live on Fox Sports
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go & Watch NRL / Australia – Kayo Sports / US – Watch NRL, and if the match is televised in the USA it can also be streamed live on Fox Sports platforms
Canterbury Bulldogs team news
With the Bulldogs guaranteed to finish in third spot, Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo may have considered going down a similar path to Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, but Ciraldo has opted against resting any players. Winger Jacob Kiraz will miss this game due to an ankle injury. Enari Tuala will replace him on the wing. Ciraldo has even brought Viliame Kikau back into the team. He will return from an infection, meaning Josh Curran goes to the interchange, while Daniel Suluka-Fifita is relegated to the reserves.
Squad: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Enari Tuala 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Josh Curran 17. Reed Mahoney 19. Jake Turpin 20. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 21. Kurtis Morrin 22. Jethro Rinakama 23. Toby Sexton
Cronulla Sharks team news
Jesse Ramien has been named in the centres after being sidelined for two weeks due to a thumb injury. It means Mawene Hiroti drops back to the reserves. Braydon Trindall has been selected at No.6, even though he exited the game on Sunday due to an ankle problem. Oregon Kaufusi (calf) has been named in the extended squad.
Squad: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun 14. Hohepa Puru 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Oregon Kaufusi 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Cronulla Sharks prediction
The Bulldogs (3rd) are locked into third position on the ladder and are coming off a dominant 28-4 victory over a severely understrength Penrith side in Round 26.
The Cronulla Sharks (5th) are one of the form teams of the competition, having won four of their last five matches. They enter this clash on the back of a powerful 40-16 win over the Newcastle in Round 26. They have benefitted from an easier draw than some others in finals contention and this is a litmus test of where they truly stand.
Key Stats:
The Bulldogs have won eight from 10 at Accor Stadium this season. The Sharks have scored 94 points in their last two games. The Bulldogs have won only two of their past eight games against the Sharks. Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored eight tries in his last five games. The Bulldogs have won five and lost five against top-eight opposition this season. Bulldogs fullback Connor Tracey leads the entire NRL in kick return metres with 1,935. He will take on his former team.
In the NRL era (since 1998), the H2H record is very tight, with the Bulldogs ahead just 21-20. The Bulldogs won their earlier clash this season, a convincing 20-6 victory at Shark Park in Round 4
This is a genuine finals preview. The Bulldogs, comfortable on the ladder, aim to assert their premiership credentials, while the Sharks chase a top-four spot. Kikau’s return strengthens the Bulldogs’ power game, but Nicho Hynes leads a dynamic Sharks attack, setting up a high-intensity clash
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Cronulla Sharks tip: Cronulla Sharks to win
