Sunday first NRL Round 6 match is between New Zealand Warriors and Canterbury Bulldogs with the opening kick to commence at 14pm. The game is to be played at Eden Park which see’s away team Canterbury Bulldogs hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between New Zealand Warriors and Canterbury Bulldogs.

WHERE AND WHEN: Eden Park, Auckland, Sunday, 14pm (NZ)

Odds Comparison:

New Zealand Warriors	2.02	2.05	2.10	2.05	2.02	2.08
Canterbury Bulldogs	1.82	1.80	1.76	1.80	1.82	1.75

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

The first of two games scheduled for this Sunday sees the Warriors host the Bulldogs.

The Warriors, who started the season slowly, seemed to have had started turning this around in the past fortnight with a win in Townsville of the Cowboys before accounting for the Dragons last week, 42 – 18 at Westpac Stadium in New Zealand.

With two wins under their belt and facing the winless Sharks, the Warriors were expected to do much better than the 37 – 6 loss that they produced.

The erratic Warriors were no match for the home-side Sharks who scored three times in the first, four times in the second and only had their own line crossed in the final minutes of the match.

It was a performance that coach Matt Elliot decided he could not sit through again an on Monday of this week, handed in his resignation as head coach.

The job of turning the Warriors poor start to the season around now lays with interim coach, Andrew McFadden who has made a raft of changes for this week’s clash.

The Dogs scored a big win over Melbourne Storm in round 4, 40 – 12 in Perth and came back last week to hold on to a 9 – 8 win over the Roosters.

It was the Bulldogs third win of the season whilst their previous two wins had seen them register 40 + points, last week’s game, played in trying conditions, demonstrated that they are also capable of grinding out a tough victory if required.

Five-eight Josh Reynolds was a stand-out and was very well supported by halves partner Trent Hodkinson who has already bagged 50 points this season.

With three of their next four games after this one at ANZ stadium, the Bulldogs could have themselves positioned very nicely heading into the Origin season.

The two sides have only met once each year since 2010 and the ledger is balanced 2 – 2 with the Bulldogs having won the two most recent by 14 and 8 points.

Teams who chance coach have a strong record and the Warriors now play with nothing to lose, the type of conditions they thrive under but Bulldogs have the experience and ability to counter that and happy to stick with them at what looks a good price.

Teams:

New Zealand Warriors:
Sam Tomkins, Ngani Laumape, Dane Nielsen, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Jayson Bukuya, Simon Mannering, Sebastine Ikahihifo. Interchange: Jacob Lillyman, Suaia Matagi, Dominique Peyroux, Charlie Gubb, Siliva Havili, David Bhana

Canterbury Bulldogs:
Sam Perrett, Corey Thompson, Josh Morris, Timoteo Lafai, Mitch Brown, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis, James Graham, Josh Jackson, Tony Williams, Dale Finucane. Interchange: Greg Eastwood, Pat O’Hanlon, Tim Browne, David Klemmer, Moses Mbye, Frank Pritchard

News:

The Warriors’ tumultuous week took a considerable turn for the better after captain Simon Mannering committed to the NRL club for four more years.

Second-rower Mannering’s future at the Warriors has been the subject of speculation, which escalated this week following the departure of coach Matthew Elliott and subsequent public spat between co-owners Eric Watson and Sir Owen Glenn.

The 27-year-old signed through to 2018 in an emphatic indication of loyalty to the only side he has served in the NRL.

He made his first grade debut in 2005 and has played 193 games, including a record 93 as captain.

Watson said the deal was not only one of the longest but also one of the most significant in the club’s history.

He also revealed prop Jacob Lillyman has been re-signed to the end of the 2017 season and back rower Sione Lousi to the end of 2016, bringing to 12 the number of players who have extended their stays in recent times.

“This a signal of how much the Warriors mean to Simon, Jacob, Sione and all the other players who have re-signed,” Watson said.

“Simon’s signing is a fantastic coup and a huge boost for the club.

“He is exceptional across the board as our record-holding captain, a player of the highest order and also a person of tremendous quality.”

Mannering admits he had received significant interest from other clubs but had faith in the direction the Warriors are taking despite the controversy that had surrounded them this week.

“This is the biggest contract of my career because it could possibly be my last,” he said.

Andrew McFadden, promoted from assistant coach to interim head coach in place of Elliott, says the contract extensions announced on Saturday show the Warriors remain an attractive proposition for players.

Mannering means plenty to the club because of the respect he is held in by his team-mates.

Lillyman, 30, will extended his Warriors career to nine seasons while Lousi, 24, gets a chance to establish himself at the club after his 2013 season was ruined by a knee injury.

The 14th-placed Warriors host the second-placed Canterbury Bulldogs in Auckland on Sunday.