Canterbury Bulldogs vs Penrith Panthers Preview & Prediction | 2025 NRL | Regular Season
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The Canterbury Bulldogs are licking their wounds this week, but face a Penrith Panthers team that is choosing to rest a team full of stars with bigger things on their mind.
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
Josh Curran comes into the starting side for Viliame Kikau, who has been hospitalised with a skin infection. Prop Harry Hayes is facing six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury so Daniel Suluka-Fifita has been added to the bench.
Squad: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 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. Josh Curran 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 17. Reed Mahoney 19. Enari Tuala 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Lipoi Hopoi 22. Jake Turpin 23. Toby Sexton
Penrith Panthers team news
With the top four out of reach, Head Coach Ivan Cleary has chosen to rest 16 of his frontline players. Back-rower Matt Eisenhuth will captain a side that includes premiership winners Paul Alamoti on the wing and Jack Cole at halfback while back-rower Zac Lipowicz, centres Sione Fonua and David Fale and bench forward Billy Phillips make their NRL debuts.
Squad: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Jesse McLean 3. Sione Fonua 4. David Fale 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Jack Cole 7. Brad Schneider 8. Luron Patea 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Austin Dias 11. Zac Lipowicz 12. Mavrik Geyer 13. Matt Eisenhuth 14. Soni Luke 15. Preston Riki 16. Riley Price 17. Billy Phillips 18. Billy Scott 19. Niko Apelu 20. Asu Kepaoa 21. Riley Wake 22. Jaxen Edgar
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Penrith Panthers prediction
Having climbed into the top four on the back of nine straight wins, the Panthers (7th) have had their momentum halted by back-to-back golden point losses to the Melbourne Storm a fortnight back and to the Canberra Raiders last week. In a game that had absolutely everything, a Nathan Cleary field goal attempt that banged off the upright ended with a miracle length of the field try for the Green machine to snatch victory away.
Now sitting three points outside the top four with two games to play the defending premiers are faced with the prospect of sudden-death footy throughout September if they're to make it five titles in a row. With both the Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks expected to also win this weekend it seems that Ivan Cleary is resigned to the fact that sixth or seventh is where they are destined to finish.
The Canterbury Bulldogs (3rd) have also found the going tough in recent weeks with three losses in their past four matches, but they finish off the season with two home games at Accor Stadium where the blue and white army will be out in force. Last week they suffered a 20-14 loss to the Melbourne Storm in a match where they won’t have lost too many admirers.
After playing a key role in Penrith's 2021-22 premierships as defensive coach, Cameron Ciraldo endured a tough initiation at Belmore in 2023, but he is now into a second straight finals series and has his sights on delivering the club's first premiership since 2004.
Some statistics to be wary of; The Panthers have won their last eight games against the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have not defeated the Panthers at Accor Stadium since 2018. The Bulldogs have won seven from nine at Accor Stadium in 2025. Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz has scored five tries in his last six games.
Many of these numbers have a distorted view when looking at the line-ups for this week and we think a battle-hardened Bulldogs team should have too much experience for the Penrith “Cubs”.
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Penrith Panthers tip: Canterbury Bulldogs to win by 10+ & Jacob Kiraz to score a try
