Stephen Crichton and the Canterbury Bulldogs host Latrell Mitchell and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a blockbuster Good Friday clash at Accor Stadium.
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MATCH CENTRE: Bulldogs vs Rabbitohs teams, scores, videos, updates
For the Bulldogs Viliame Kikau comes into the back row with Josh Curran shifting to prop and Daniel Suluka-Fifita dropping out, while Souths are 1-17.
In a huge boost gun five-eighth Matt Burton has been named to return from a knee injury. In a further boost, Viliame Kikau has been named in the extended squad and will have to prove his fitness this week as he also eyes a return from a knee injury. After deputising in the No.6 jersey, Bailey Hayward drops back to the bench despite his impressive showings. Blake Taaffe also drops out of the 17 as Sitili Tupouniua has served his ban.
Cody Walker has been given the green light to return from a hamstring injury and has been named in the No.7 jersey alongside Latrell Mitchell in the halves. English recruit Lewis Dodd’s is in line to finally make his NRL debut after being named in the utility role off the bench. It has been a difficult start to his time in Australia since signing a $650,000 a season deal. Dodd has fallen down the pecking order at Souths following the breakout performances of Jamie Humphreys prompting calls for the half to be released. “It’s early doors, but they might have to make a hard call on Lewis Dodd,” James Hooper said earlier in the season. “It sounds brutal, he hasn’t even laced a boot and run out in an NRL game but they’ve signed him on a three-year deal.” Dodd will get his chance to prove his value to the Rabbitohs in the blockbuster traditional Good Friday showdown against the Dogs, with 70,000 fans expected at Accor Stadium. With Humphreys not due back until round 10, Dodd has an opportunity to become part of Wayne Bennett’s plans. Cooper Cronk says Dodd might be best used as a game manager for Souths. “We have only seen snippets of Dodd in the World Club Challenge and pre-season, but he looks more of an organising half with a decent kicking game and a left foot,” Cronk said. “He might come in and do that managerial role for Souths.”
TEAMS
Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 11. Josh Curran 12. Jacob Preston 23. Viliame Kikau 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Jack Todd 17. Bailey Hayward. 18th man: 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita
Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Campbell Graham 3. Euan Aitken 4. Jack Wighton 5. Isaiah Tass 6. Latrell Mitchell 7. Cody Walker 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Lewis Dodd 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Davvy Moale. 18th man: 18. Liam Le Blanc
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