Can the Cowboys upset the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium?
ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park, Saturday 7.30pm (AEST)
Last meeting: Round 13 2013 - Canterbury 36 bt Cowboys 26 at 1300SMILES Stadium
Head-to-head: Canterbury 21 Cowboys 10
Referees: Gerard Sutton, Alan Shortall
TV: Live, FoxSports 1
Ladbrokes: Bulldogs $1.55, Cowboys $2.50
Betfair: Bulldogs $1.65, Cowboys $2.46
AAP writes: North Queensland may have ended their season-long wait for a win on the road last weekend at Cronulla but a trip to ANZ Stadium is probably the last one the Cowboys want to make right now. Winless at the venue since 2006, the Cowboys have lost nine straight to the Bulldogs and South Sydney on their trips to Sydney. That appears unlikely to change this time around with the Bulldogs sure to be revved up following their abysmal display against Wests Tigers last weekend. Cowboys coach Paul Green has stuck with the same team which beat the Sharks while the Bulldogs welcome back Origin representative Josh Morris. Young half Moses Mbye will don the No.6 jersey for the Dogs.
Key: The Dogs’ forward pack, so dominant in 2014, failed to fire against the Tigers. Expect them to bounce back hard in a tough night for the Cowboys.
Tip: Canterbury
BULLDOGS: Mitch Brown, Corey Thompson, Josh Morris, Tim Lafai, Drury Low, Moses Mbye, Trent Hodkinson, Sam Kasiano, Michael Ennis (capt), James Graham, Josh Jackson, Tony Williams, Greg Eastwood. Interchange: Reni Maitua, Dale Finucane, Pat O’Hanlon, Lloyd Perrett, Damien Cook (one to be omitted).
COWBOYS: Michael Morgan, Matthew Wright, Tautau Moga, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Robert Lui, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Ashton Sims, Rory Kostjasyn, James Tamou, Tariq Sims, Jason Taumalolo, Glenn Hall. Interchange: Ray Thompson, Scott Bolton, John Asiata, Sam Hoare.
J-Mozz looks just a bit terrified right? #proudtobeabulldog pic.twitter.com/8RHRGxVLrR — NRL Bulldogs (@NRL_Bulldogs) July 26, 2014
Late mail from the Bulldogs' website:
Bulldogs Coach Des Hasler has finalised his side for the match against the Cowboys tonight at ANZ Stadium.
Kick-off will be at 7.30pm with coverage LIVE on FOX Sports. You can also follow @NRL_Bulldogs on Twitter for live updates.
The side is as follows:
23. Sam Perrett
2. Corey Thompson
6. Moses Mbye
4. Tim Lafai
1. Mitch Brown
12. Tony Williams
7. Trent Hodkinson
8. Sam Kasiano
9. Michael Ennis ©
10. James Graham
11. Josh Jackson
13. Greg Eastwood
15. Dale Finucane
14. Reni Maitua
16. Pat O’Hanlon
17. Lloyd Perrett
21. Harlan Alaalatoa
It rained in Sydney this morning so ANZ Stadium may be a little heavy for tonight's clash between the Bulldogs and the Cowboys. The Cowboys are on the edge of the eight - a win will see them leapfrog the Broncos into eighth position on the ladder, while the Bulldogs will overtake the Panthers if they get the chocolates. North Queensland overcame their Sydney-itis to beat the Sharks at Remondis last week for a rare away victory. But the Bulldogs were off form: they copped a flogging from the Tigers. Both teams have a lot to lose, so expect a hard-fought encounter.
4th minute:
Cowboys' first attacking foray ends with a great pass from Michael Morgan... to the touch judge.
Bulldogs 0 Cowboys 0
2nd minute:
Bone-crunching tackles from both sides as they complete their first sets.
Bulldogs 0 Cowboys 0
6th minute:
Kasiano is at his Beetsonesque best palming off Sims and finding Ennis with a neat pass.
Bulldogs 0 Cowboys 0
7th minute:
Sam Perrett is making good metres from the back, as the Dogs score a penalty for a ruck infringement. They attack 35m out.
Bulldogs 0 Cowboys 0
9th minute:
T Rex throws a turf-bound pass to end a promising Bulldogs attack.
Bulldogs 0 Cowboys 0
10th minute:
Great work form Sam Perrett to foil Wright as he dove low and hard for the line.
Bulldogs 0 Cowboys 0
12th minute:
A rib-rattling tackle from Kasiano forced Kostjaysin to cough up the pill and put the Bulldogs on the attack.
Bulldogs 0 Cowboys 0
14th minute:
Berries over the stripe. Great ball movement from Perrett across the left side to Mitch Brown for what looked like an easy catch and pass try. Hodkinson converts.
Bulldogs 6 Cowboys 0
15th minute:
Mini stink. Michael Ennis and Ashton Sims exchange unpleasantries before the ref intervenes. Penalty Dogs.
Bulldogs 6 Cowboys 0
17th minute:
Tamou is on his back injured, and now he's being guided off the field.
Bulldogs 6 Cowboys 0
19th minute:
Doggies go close. Lafai skipped on the outside of Moga and groped for the line but the ball danced away inches short.
Bulldogs 6 Cowboys 0
20th minute:
The Cowboys have only completed three sets so far. The Doggies have dominated possession: 65% to 35%
Bulldogs 6 Cowboys 0
22nd minute:
Funny stuff: Winterstein accidentally backs into ball-running teammate Morgan and floors him.
Bulldogs 6 Cowboys 0