ANZ Stadium

Monday, 7pm

Canterbury Bulldogs  $1.20 vs Gold Coast Titans $4.50 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Canterbury Bulldogs  $1.15 vs Gold Coast Titans $5.75 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by NRL Odds:

Canterbury Bulldogs	1.20	1.17	1.15	1.17	1.20	1.16
Gold Coast Titans	4.50	5.15	5.75	5.15	4.50	5.25

Preview:

The final match of the round sees the Bulldogs take on the Titans who registered a much needed win – their first in five weeks over the Tigers last week 36 – 6.

The win will have the Titans back on focus after some appalling efforts the month prior however, the Tigers offered little opposition last week and poor performance almost guaranteed the Titans a win.

It’ll take an improved effort again from the Titans to worry the Bulldogs who have recorded comfortable victories in each of their past three matches.

Admittedly, these win come over teams who fielded depleted line-ups or, had been struggling form for all year and it was only an impressive late surge by the Dogs, that ensure last Monday night’s victory of the Dragons, resulted in the impressive 39 – 20 score-line.

They too will have to lift a couple of notches to ensure that when the finals come, they’ll be competitive but they get the chance to produce a finals worthy performance here.

The two sides have yet to meet this year, with the most recent clash being in round 10 last year which resulted in a Titans victory but not expecting them to be able reproduce a similar result here.

Teams:

Canterbury Bulldogs:
Sam Perrett, Mitch Brown, Josh Morris, Timoteo Lafai, Krisnan Inu, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis, James Graham, Frank Pritchard, Tony Williams, Greg Eastwood. Interchange: Dene Halatau, Josh Jackson, Sam Kasiano, Dale Finucane, Tim Browne

Gold Coast Titans:
David Mead, Kevin Gordon, Brad Takairangi, Jamie Dowling, Anthony Don, Ashley Harrison, Aidan Sezer, Luke Douglas, Beau Falloon, Nate Myles, Ben Ridge, Mark Minichiello, Greg Bird. Interchange: David Taylor, Ryan James, Luke O’Dwyer, Sam Irwin

Bulldogs re-sign promising NRL duo

New Canterbury boss Raelene Castle has wasted no time in making her mark at Belmore in securing two of the NRL club’s most promising youngsters to long term deals.

Back-rowers Josh Jackson and Dale Finucane have on Sunday had their contracts with the Bulldogs extended until the end of the 2016 season.

The duo were already contracted to the club until the end of next year.

Succeeding Todd Greenberg, who has joined the NRL as head of football, as Bulldogs chief executive was always going to be a tough ask for the well-credentialled Castle but she has hit the ground running after starting the demanding job four weeks ago.

Jackson, 22, and Finucane, 21, made their debuts for the Bulldogs in 2012 and played in the club’s grand final loss to Melbourne last season.

Castle said they were both players who would take the club forward.

“Both Dale and Josh are great young men who have made significant contributions both on and off the field,” Castle said.

“We’re pleased that we have been able to re-sign them and they can continue to develop as players and as men as a part of the Bulldogs squad.”

Both players said they were happy to have sorted out their long-term futures.

“It’s great that I’ve been able to secure my future beyond next year, Jackson said.

“I’ve done a lot of growing up here and it’s great to know I’ll be here for the next three seasons playing with this great bunch of guys.”

Finucane added: “I’ve managed to fulfil a dream of playing in the NRL. I’ve had a good run so far and my main aim is just to continually play at this level and contribute as best as I can to the team.”

The Bulldogs are yet to find the type of form that propelled them to last season’s decider but remain top eight probables.

Coach Des Hasler welcomed the retention of Jackson and Finucane ahead of the club’s round round 22 clash with Gold Coast at ANZ Stadium on Monday.

“Both Dale and Josh have come through the system here at the club and have been consistent performers since making their debut” Hasler said.

“They are still only young so we’ll continue to help them develop as players and it’s good to know they will be doing it here at the Bulldogs.”

Jackson has played 31 NRL games and debuted for Country this season.

Finucane has played 33 NRL games.