From Club website:
Round 18 Team News: Young Pups To Face Knights
Author
Caitlin GlanvilleMedia & Communications ManagerTimestampTue 27 Jun 2023, 03:58 PM
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Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo has faith in his side, as the young pups prepare to tackle the Newcastle Knights this weekend at Accor Stadium.
The Bulldogs side are bolstered by the return of some senior leaders in Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Burton, while Khaled Rajab has been called upon to make the first start of his NRL career.
Fellow five-eighth Karl Oloapu drops out from this week's line-up as he recovers from a neck injury sustained in Round 16.
NSW Cup Captain and star feature, Jackson Topine returns to the bench for this Round 18 match up.
Each side currently sits on a 33% win-rate in 2023, with both teams conceding four of their past five matches. The Bulldogs will however, enter Sunday's match fresh from some much-needed rest, while the Knights were toppled by an understrength Panthers side.
The home ground advantage of Accor Stadium could prove a tipping point for this fairly evenly-matched clash, given Newcastle has won just one away game all season (over the Tigers in Round 2).
The Round 18 fixture will mark the NRL's Beanie for Brain Cancer Round with Mark Hughes Foundation Beanies available to purchase at the match. The Bulldogs will also look to celebrate and honour the contributions of former players in this club-led 'old boys' Round.
While we celebrate former players, including our most recently retired and ex-skipper Josh Jackson, one young pup will be setting out to best a club record.
Jacob Kiraz currently sits alongside legends, Hazem El Masri, Terry Lamb and Ben Harris for the most tries scored in a match against the Knights (3-a-piece), but will have the chance to top the leaderboard come Sunday's clash.
Don't miss the chance to celebrate both past and present Bulldogs stars this Sunday, at Accor Stadium.
