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Bulldogs v Dolphins: Wait over for Kikau; JMK back on deck

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The Dolphins will return from a bye desperate to keep their finals hopes alive when they take on a bolstered Bulldogs in Bundaberg.

Canterbury have faced a significant injury crisis this season, with marquee signing Viliame Kikau ruled out since Round 4 and Kangaroos winger Josh Addo-Carr chalking just 10 games for the Belmore club. 

However, with a number of troops expected back this week, Cameron Ciraldo's side will be out to restore some pride after a so far disappointing season has them languishing in 16th position on the ladder. 

Meanwhile, sitting just two points outside the top eight, Wayne Bennett's Dolphins are still very much in the mix for finals footy but will need to take advantage of their favourites tag and put the clamp on the Bulldogs with clashes against the Knights and Roosters around the corner.

While it's a home game for the Bulldogs, the regional fixture will be a homecoming for Dolphins forward Felise Kaufusi who grew up playing for the Bundaberg Brothers Junior Rugby League Club.

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Team News 

Bulldogs: Viliame Kikau (pectoral) is back for his first game since Round 4, while Josh Addo-Carr (hamstring) returns on the wing. Raymond Faitala-Mariner dropped out of the squad an hour before kick-off, so Ryan Sutton starts at lock in his return from a neck injury. Mid-season signing Liam Knight is the new addition on the bench and will make his club debut. Jacob Preston (illness), Braidon Burns (abdomen) and Toby Sexton (concussion) are all good to go.

Dolphins: No late changes for Wayne Bennett's side, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returning to fullback after two games in the centres. Kodi Nikorima is the new five-eighth and Anthony Milford goes to the bench, with Valynce Te Whare at centre. Hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returns from a shoulder injury. Kenny Bromwich starts at lock, with Ray Stone out with a broken hand.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Jake Averillo
    Fullback for Dolphins is number 1 Hamiso  Tabuai-Fidow 
  • Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Blake Wilson
    Winger for Dolphins is number 2 Jamayne Isaako
  • Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Jacob Kiraz
    Centre for Dolphins is number 3 Euan Aitken
  • Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Braidon Burns
    Centre for Dolphins is number 4 Valynce Te Whare
  • Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
    Winger for Dolphins is number 5 Tesi Niu
  • Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Matt Burton
    Five-Eighth for Dolphins is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
  • Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Toby Sexton
    Halfback for Dolphins is number 7 Sean O'Sullivan

Forwards

  • Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
    Prop for Dolphins is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
  • Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Reed Mahoney
    Hooker for Dolphins is number 9 Jeremy  Marshall-King
  • Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Tevita Pangai Junior
    Prop for Dolphins is number 10 Mark Nicholls
  • 2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau
    2nd Row for Dolphins is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
  • 2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
    2nd Row for Dolphins is number 12 Connelly Lemuelu
  • Lock for Bulldogs is number 21 Ryan Sutton
    Lock for Dolphins is number 13 Kenneath Bromwich

Interchange

  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Kyle Flanagan
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 14 Herman Ese'ese
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Corey Waddell
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 15 Josh Kerr
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 20 Harrison Edwards
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 16 Anthony Milford
  • Interchange for Bulldogs is number 23 Liam Knight
    Interchange for Dolphins is number 17 Jarrod Wallace

Reserves

  • Replacement for Bulldogs is number 22 Jeral Skelton
    Replacement for Dolphins is number 18 Isaiya Katoa

Match Officials

  • Referee: Peter Gough
  • Touch Judge: Nick Morel
  • Senior Review Official: Ben Cummins

Last updated:

Stat Attack

  • Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton has produced the most amount of short dropouts this season with 19. 
  • The Bulldogs have made more tackles than any other team this season with 6,211.
  • Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako is leading the competition in points scored with 173. He has played and scored in every game for the Dolphins.
  • The Bulldogs have won only two of their past 21 games in Queensland.
  • Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has scored 15 tries in 15 games in 2023.
  • Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored 38 tries in 35 games at Queensland venues.
  • The Bulldogs have conceded 268 points in their past six games.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the .

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