Bulldogs name unchanged side to face Raiders

by NRL

The Bulldogs have named an unchanged line up to travel to our Nation's Capital for this Friday's clash, with Coach Des Hasler sticking strong with his troops, who mustered a golden point victory in their last start.

The Bulldogs, who are looking to extend a twelve game winning streak, are close to full strength with Kasiano and Graham making incident free comebacks last week.

Martin Taupau has again been named in the number 20 jersey and will travel to Canberra with the team as 18th man. The players are expecting some chilly conditions, as well as a ruthless Raiders squad who are currently sitting in 9th on the ladder and are fighting to keep their season alive.

Friday night's game at Bruce Stadium is scheduled to kickoff at 7.30pm and will be shown delayed on broadcaster Channel 9.

The Bulldogs Toyota Cup team faces their biggest challenge so far this season when they take on the high flying Raiders on Friday afternoon. The Raiders are currently sitting on top of the ladder one point clear of the Bulldogs.

Toyota Cup Coach Andy Patmore has followed suite from Hasler in naming an unchanged line up for Friday afternoon. The side defeated fellow top four contenders the Wests Tigers, 22-14 on Friday night.

Team of the Year debutants Paul Carter and David Klemmer, who have both been standouts for the Bulldogs this season have both been named; Klemmer at prop and Carter in the second row.

The top of the table clash will take place this Friday, kick off at 5.20pm.

The Bulldogs NSW Cup team will be returning home to Belmore Sports Ground this Saturday to take on the Auckland Vulcans at 3pm in a 2011 Grand Final rematch.

NSW Cup coach Barry Ward has named an unchanged line up who will be eager to bounce back from a last start 31-18 defeat at the hands of the Cronulla Sharks.

The Bulldogs are currently sitting on top of the NSW Cup ladder and will be very keen to maintain their top form.

Just two points have separated the Vulcans and the Bulldogs in their last two starts with the Bulldogs clinching the big one, when they came from behind on the last play of the game to defeat the Vulcans 30-28 in the 2011 Grand Final. This year the Vulcans got their payback, defeating the Bulldogs 12-10 at home in New Zealand back in Round 12.

Spectators can expect big things this Saturday from Bulldogs recruit James Gavet who will look to put on a big performance against his former Vulcans' teammates.

Captain Trent Cutler is still just one point away from reaching a club milestone of 700 points and will no doubt be trying to achieve this before season's end.

Teams for this weekend are as follows:

NRL
1 Ben Barba
2 Sam Perrett
3 Josh Morris
4 Krisnan Inu
5 Jonathan Wright
6 Josh Reynolds
7 Kris Keating
8 Aiden Tolman
9 Michael Ennis [c]
10 Sam Kasiano
11 Frank Pritchard
12 Josh Jackson
13 Greg Eastwood

14 James Graham
15 Dale Finucane
16 Corey Payne
17 David Stagg
20 Martin Taupau

Head Coach: Des Hasler


NSW Cup
1 Trent Cutler
2 Drury Low
3 Brett Lane
4 Luke MacDougall
5 Bryson Goodwin
6 Chad Isles
7 Joel Romelo
8 Tim Browne
9 Shane Pumipi
10 Jake Finn
11 James Gavet
12 Jake Foster
13 Harlan Alaalatoa

14 Ray Moujalli
15 Kose Lelei
16 Steve Azzi
17 Josh Gill

Coach: Barry Ward


Toyota Cup
1 Patrick Templeman
2 Sam Ahofono
3 Matthew Fukofuka
4 Ed Murphy
5 John Sila
6 Jaline Graham
7 Moses Mbye [c]
8 David Klemmer
9 Dean Janda
10 Lloyd Perrett
11 Tupou Sopoaga
12 Paul Carter
13 Lachlan Burr

14 Gerard McCallum
15 James Ralphs
16 David Minute
19 Oliver Gordon

Coach: Andy Patmore

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