Round 1 winners the Bulldogs will travel to Canberra to take on a Raiders side looking to bounce back following a disappointing showing in New Zealand.

After stealing a golden point win with an Ethan Sanders field goal in their opening game, Ricky Stuart’s men were thoroughly outplayed 40-6 by a undermanned Warriors outfit.

At home for the first time this weekend, the Raiders will be hoping to show their fans more of the steel that saw them claim the minor premiership last year.

Fresh off the bye following their great escape in Las Vegas against the Dragons, the Bulldogs will be hoping to set a positive tone early in the match and learn from their lapses in Round 1.

In that game, skipper Stephen Crichton stood up with a golden point field goal to get the team off to a winning start, but against a fire-up Raiders, the Dogs will need to be on their game throughout. 

Team News

Raiders: Representative prop Josh Papalii returns after being sidelined with concussion and will slot straight in to start in the front row. Morgan Smithies moves to the interchange bench. One minor change in Wednesday’s 24-hour team update, with Jed Stuart replacing Matt Timoko as the sixth player on the Raiders bench. Owen Pattie remains in the extended squad. 

Bulldogs: Enari Tuala comes in for his first appearance of 2026, slotting in at centre with Bronson Xerri omitted. Tuala’s elevation to the starting side brings in off-season recruit Sean O’Sullivan to the extended bench as the 19th player. No other changes from the side that got the job done in a close contest against the Dragons in Las Vegas. No changes in Wednesday’s 24-hour update.

Stat Attack

The Raiders have won five of their past six games against the Bulldogs at GIO Stadium.
Bulldogs second-rower Jacob Preston has scored five tries in his past five games.
Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored seven tries in his last seven games at GIO Stadium.
Bulldogs centre Stephen Crichton has scored 10 tries in eight games against the Raiders.
Ricky Stuart will achieve the milestone of 300 games as Raiders coach.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.