Saturday has three NRL matches with the second game for Round 25 is between Canterbury Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers with the opening kick to commence at 5:30pm local time. The game is to be played at ANZ Stadium with the favourite for the match being Canterbury Bulldogs. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between Canterbury Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers.

WHERE AND WHEN: ANZ Stadium, Saturday, 31st August, 5:30pm

Opening odds comparison:

Canterbury Bulldogs	1.42	1.34	1.37	1.34	1.42	1.43
Penrith Panthers	2.85	3.25	3.20	3.25	2.85	2.85

Preview:

The Bulldogs take on the Panthers on Saturday, 5.30pm at ANZ Stadium. While the Bulldogs will go into this match as favourites, this game has significant finals
ramifications and will be hard fought by both teams. While the Bulldogs will be playing for a home final, 13th placed Penrith will be looking to continue their recent winning
ways and may just have enough to worry the home side.

Teams:

Canterbury Bulldogs:
Josh Morris, Mitch Brown, Krisnan Inu, Tim Lafai, Sam Perrett, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis, James Graham, Tony Williams, Josh Jackson, Dale Finucane. Interchange: Dene Halatau, Lachlan Burr, Tim Browne, Martin Taupau

Penrith Panthers:
Lachlan Coote, Josh Mansour, Lewis Brown, Dean Whare, David Simmons, Isaac John, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston, Tim Grant, Clint Newton, Sika Manu, Ryan Simpkins. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Nathan Smith, Jeremy Latimore, Mose Masoe, Matt Moylan

Barba feels for cousin Hoffman

The “family comes first” attitude that led Ben Barba to the Broncos may also ensure miffed cousin Josh Hoffman remains as Brisbane fullback next year.

After Broncos coach Anthony Griffin hinted Barba could feature at pivot next year to appease Hoffman, the Dally M Medallist said it would be “very sad” if he replaced his cousin at fullback.

Griffin personally informed Hoffman that Barba had signed a three-year deal from 2014 before the NRL club trumpeted the news on Wednesday.

Hoffman reportedly left the meeting fuming and contemplated a release from his contract which expires at the end of 2015.

However, Barba – who left the Bulldogs to follow his ex-partner and two daughters to Queensland – felt for Hoffman who he grew up with in their native Mackay.

“They’ve taken me so I am open to playing anywhere,” he said of his Broncos prospects.

“I am really close to Josh and we grew up playing alongside each other.

“It would be very sad if I was to push him out which is not what I want to do.

“I am very happy to slot in anywhere.”

Griffin sounded like he was keeping an open mind about Barba with halves Scott Prince (retirement) and Peter Wallace (Penrith) on the way out at season’s end.

Asked if Barba was going to play at fullback next year, the Broncos coach said: “He’s got the ability to play in a lot of positions.

“He’s has the ability to play five-eighth or in the halves.”

Griffin admitted it was “tough” telling Hoffman about Barba but championed the Kiwi international’s ability to bounce back.

After being relegated to the wing at the start of the year, Hoffman wrestled back his preferred No.1 jersey from Parramatta-bound Corey Norman to become one of the NRL’s form fullbacks.

“I am sure it is a challenge for him and wasn’t the first choice he wanted to hear,” Griffin said of Hoffman about the Barba move.

“He was the best left winger in the game for about 14 weeks this year and is doing a great job at fullback.

“(But) it’s about the club and the team and what is best going forward.”

Barba will link with the Broncos after the club took over the terms of his existing deal with the Bulldogs and paid them compensation, believed to be around $300,000, to secure the 2012 Dally M Medallist.

The 24-year-old – released on compassionate grounds – said he would have moved anywhere in the country to be near his children.

“My ex-partner has a lot of family and friends there (in Brisbane) and luckily she moved there, it wasn’t really my choice,” Barba said.

“If she had moved to Perth I probably would be sitting out now and not playing rugby league – I would have had to go and try out with the (AFL’s) West Coast.”