Bulldogs v Storm: Thompson, Kaufusi to return
Avoiding another lopsided score will be in the back of the minds of Trent Barrett and his Bulldogs as they keep searching for a first win of 2021 when the Storm visit Sydney.
The Bulldogs haven't conceded less than 24 points in a match so far. Now they face a Storm side that is in the NRL's top-three for both line-breaks and tackle busts.
The Bulldogs have some hard workers in their pack like Adam Elliott, Dylan Napa, Ofahiki Ogden, Renouf Atoni and Jack Hetherington.
Hetherington made 16 hit-ups and 169 metres against the Rabbitohs. It was 30 metres more than the Storm's best forward last round (Tui Kamikamica,139m).
For the Storm, they clawed their back into the top-eight last weekend and have every intention of staying there.
Bulldogs v Storm
Match: Bulldogs v Storm
Round 5 -
home Team
Bulldogs
16th Position
away Team
Storm
6th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
The rundown
Team news
Bulldogs: Luke Thompson will come off the bench in his first appearance of the season, with Dylan Napa to start at prop.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns from suspension at fullback, with Nick Meaney (ribs) out. Skipper Josh Jackson also returns from suspension, Renouf Atoni and Jack Hetherington move to the interchange with Dean Britt and Joe Stimson out.
Lachlan Lewis sits out after copping a head knock last week with Jake Averillo back from an ankle injury at five-eighth. Corey Allan swaps to centre with Nick Cotric on the wing.
Stimson dropped off the extended bench an hour before kick-off while Brandon Wakeham is the 18th man. Britt and Chris Smith were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Storm: Harry Grant will play his first game of the season off the bench, with Tui Kamikamica to start at lock and Nelson Asofa-Solomona coming off the bench.
Felise Kaufusi returns from suspension, with Tom Eisenhuth dropping back to the interchange bench.
The club also confirmed that premiership-winning centre Brenko Lee was eligible for selection after shaking off a hamstring injury. He was included as a reserve on Tuesday but came out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off along with Dean Ieremia.
Match: Bulldogs v Storm
Round 5 -
home Team
Bulldogs
away Team
Storm
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Dallin Watene-ZelezniakFullback for Storm is number 1 Ryan Papenhuyzen
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Nick CotricWinger for Storm is number 2 George Jennings
-
Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Will HopoateCentre for Storm is number 3 Reimis Smith
-
Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Corey AllanCentre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
-
Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Tuipulotu KatoaWinger for Storm is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
-
Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Jake AverilloFive-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Cameron Munster
-
Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Kyle FlanaganHalfback for Storm is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
Forwards
-
Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Jack HetheringtonProp for Storm is number 8 Jesse Bromwich
-
Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Sione KatoaHooker for Storm is number 9 Brandon Smith
-
Prop for Bulldogs is number 16 Dylan NapaProp for Storm is number 10 Christian Welch
-
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Adam Elliott2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Felise Kaufusi
-
2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Corey Waddell2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
-
Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Josh JacksonLock for Storm is number 15 Tui Kamikamica
Interchange
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 8 Luke ThompsonInterchange for Storm is number 13 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jackson TopineInterchange for Storm is number 16 Tom Eisenhuth
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Renouf AtoniInterchange for Storm is number 17 Nicholas Hynes
-
Interchange for Bulldogs is number 17 Ofahiki OgdenInterchange for Storm is number 21 Harry Grant
Reserves
-
Reserve for Bulldogs is number 19 Brandon WakehamReserve for Storm is number 14 Chris Lewis
Match Officials
- Referee: Chris Sutton
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Touch Judge: Darian Furner
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Key match-up
Ryan Papenhuyzen v Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. With Nick Meaney out with broken ribs, DWZ returns from suspension into the No.1 jersey. The Bulldogs need something special from him. The Storm don't need to ask any more of Panenhuyzen than what he delivered against the Broncos in round four. That try-scoring blitz will be long remembered.
Stat Attack
Containing the skills of the Storm players is going to be a headache. Melbourne players have made 19 line-breaks in four games this year. As for the Bulldogs, they've made just seven.
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