Canterbury Bulldogs vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Preview & Prediction | 2026 NRL | Regular Season
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The second NRL encounter to take place at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday sees the Canterbury Bulldogs take on St George illawarra Dragons
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / Australia – Channel 9 / US – Some matches are televised live on Fox Sports
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go & Watch NRL / Australia – 9Now / 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
The Bulldogs are boosted by the fact they have a virtually fully-fit squad for the long trip to Las Vegas to kick off the 2026 campaign. Back Matt Burton and wingers Marcelo Montoya and Jacob Kiraz have all shaken off injuries to make the journey and the Bulldogs will be hoping to make a winning start despite losing marquee signing Leo Thompson to a calf injury.
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 Viliame Kikau, 12 Jacob Preston, 13 Jaeman Salmon, 14 Kurt Mann, 15 Sitili Tupouniua, 16 Harry Hayes, 17 Josh Curran, 19 Sean O’Sullivan, 20 Jake Turpin, 21 Enari Tuala, 22 Jonathan Sua, 23 Alekolasimi Jones
St. George Illawarra Dragons team news
The Dragons have had a raft of injury concerns prior to making the trip to Las Vegas but forwards Josh Kerr and Hame Sele along with centre Val Holmes have all been selected to play and should shake off their knocks. There will be plenty of intrigue around star new halfback Dan Atkinson for whom they have high hopes for.
Squad: 1 Clinton Gutherson, 2 Christian Tuipulotu, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Valentine Holmes, 5 Setu Tu, 6 Kyle Flanagan, 7 Dan Atkinson, 8 Emre Guler, 9 Damien Cook, 10 Toby Couchman, 11 Luciano Leilua, 12 Jaydn Su’A, 13 Hamish Stewart, 14 Hame Sele, 15 Josh Kerr, 16 Blake Lawrie, 17 Ryan Couchman, 18 Lyhkan King-Togia, 19 David Fale, 20 Jacob Halangahu, 21 Mathew Feagai, 22 Tyrell Sloan
Canterbury Bulldogs vs St. George Illawarra Dragons prediction
The Canterbury Bulldogs enjoyed a really strong 2025 NRL season but after falling short in the playoffs, they will have even more hunger to go far once again. They finished third in the ladder and what arguably one of the best teams for long spells of this season. The heartbreak of losing two matches in the finals will only serve to motivate them even further this time around.
They take on a St. George Illawarra Dragons outfit that only managed to win eight matches last year in a hugely disappointing season. With only the Titans and the Knights finishing behind them in the ladder, the Dragons know there is plenty of room for improvement this season.
Getting off to a good start will not be easy however and while they will relish this trip to Las Vegas, this is an incredibly difficult opening match for them.
The Bulldogs simply have to be favoured and we expect them to hit the ground running. The spread is only 7.5 and with that in mind, we strongly favour them to pick up a comfortable victory.
Canterbury Bulldogs vs St. George Illawarra Dragons tip: Bulldogs to win -7.5 points
