NRL: Canterbury Bulldogs v New Zealand Warriors
Kickoff 7.30pm Saturday, 25 July
New Zealand Warriors are still trying to find a balance between their natural inclination to shift the ball and taking a more conservative, safety-first option on attack.
Last week, they were perhaps a little lucky to escape with a 20-12 victory over a bottom-placed St George-Illawarra Dragons outfit that had justifiable gripes over officiating afterwards.
One of those dubious calls came on the go-ahead try from Warriors wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, which appeared to come off a pressured forward pass from centre Ali Leiataua.
Another occurred on the other side of the field, where centre Adam Pompey tried to flick the ball onto wing Alofiana Khan-Pereira as he was tackled and the Dragons snapped up the loose ball to score a try that was ultimately disallowed by the bunker.
Earlier, Pompey had another pass spill forward, as he tried to set Khan-Pereira free for the corner.
One of the highlights of their 2026 campaign has been the tryscoring feats of their two flying wings – Watene-Zelezniak has 17 tries in 16 games, Khan-Pereira 12 in 10 – which has only been possible with swift service from those inside them.
“We have to make sure we find that balance and there has to be accountability,” coach Andrew Webster agreed. “We don’t want to tell the boys not to go for it, if they see it.
“If they see it, we want to back them, but at the same time, we want to get better at executing. It’s one thing to go for it, but we need to execute and we have to get better at it.
“It is exciting that we have guys who can finish some stuff – they’re fast, they can finish, they can hold the ball and step back infield.”
Khan-Pereira scored a try against the Dragons, after front-rower James Fisher-Harris brought a long dropout back upfield, linking with second-rower Kurt Capewell, who found his wing back-pedalling into position to receive the ball.
“That was completely off-the-cuff and awesome football, so if they see that, we want them to go for it.”
Alofiana Khan-Pereira scores his try against St George-Illawarra Dragons.
Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Here’s what you need to know about Warriors v Canterbury Bulldogs.
History
Over their history of encounters, the Bulldogs enjoy a 24-20 winning record with two draws, but the Warriors have outscored them 1028-999 in those fixtures.
Over their past 10 meetings, the Warriors are 6-4 ahead, but the Bulldogs have won the last three, including the career swansong of Shaun Johnson at Mt Smart in August 2024.
The Bulldogs have a 7-4 advantage at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
Canterbury won the most recent game 32-14 at home last August, with centre Enari Tuala scoring a try double for the victors.
They also inflicted the biggest win of the rivalry 54-10 in 2004, with wing Matt Utai bagging four tries and Warriors counterpart Tony Martin grabbing a pair.
The Warriors’ biggest win was 40-6 at Mt Smart, where centre Solomone Kata had a try double.
The two draws came in 2000 (18-18) at Stadium Australia and the following year (24-24) in Wellington.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster has a 2-3 head-to-head record against counterpart Cameron Ciraldo, since they both left Penrith Panthers assistant roles to take up head-coaching jobs in 2023. Webster won their first two encounters, Ciraldo the subsequent three.
Form
Since dropping three of four games by two points each to the Panthers, Cronulla Sharks and the Dolphins – all playoff contenders – the Warriors have steadied the ship with back-to-back wins over Wests Tigers and the Dragons – both outside the top eight.
At 12-5, they hold second on the table, two points behind Penrith Panthers and ahead of Sydney Roosters on points differential.
They are now eight points clear of ninth-placed Manly Sea Eagles with seven games remaining in the regular season, but their 20-12 showing against the bottom-placed Dragons last week relied on some questionable officiating and hinted they may be vulnerable.
The Bulldogs mid-season revival has come since captain Stephen Crichton has switched to the halves.
Cameron Spencer
The Warriors still top the league in set completion (83 percent) and possession (52 percent).
After a mid-season slump that had them languishing in 14th on the table, the Bulldogs have won four of their last five games and currently sit 10th, just two points outside the top eight.
They are coming off their biggest win of the season – 32-0 over the Tigers – that suggested they may yet make a run at the playoffs that seemed improbably a few weeks ago.
The run has come since Ciraldo moved skipper Stephen Crichton from centre to the halves, although Crichton missed the romp over the Tigers with a minor injury.
Teams
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leitaua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitch Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima, 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 20. Marata Niukore
Reserves: 21. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 22. Luke Metcalf, 23. Rocco Berry
If the team take the field as named, Webster will have been able to play the same line-up in consecutive weeks for the first time this season.
The most notable inclusion comes on the extended reserves, where centre Rocco Berry – who is off contact at the end of this season – has not played first grade this year, due to a variety of injuries.
Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey, 2. Jacob Kiraz, 3. Matt Burton, 4. Enari Tuala, 5. Jethro Rinakiama, 6. Stephen Crichton, 7. Lachlan Galvin, 8. Max King, 9. Bailey Hayward, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Jacob Preston, 13. Jaemon Salmon
Interchange: 14. Sean O’Sullivan, 15. Josh Curran, 16. Harry Hayes, 17. Lipoi Hopoi, 19. Jed Reardon, 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Reserves: 21. Alekolasimi Jones, 22. Jack Underhill, 23. Bronson Xerri
The Bulldogs welcome skipper Stephen Crichton and second-rower Viliame Kikau back to their starting line-up, after Crichton was rested last week and Kikau returned off the bench.
Player to watch
While Crichton’s move to five-eighth has triggered the Bulldogs revival, Matt Burton’s shift back to his natural position of centre has also contributed greatly.
He was one of the standouts against Wests last week and his booming boot remains a weapon.
Kiwi player to watch
Muriwai-born prop Leo Thompson has become an integral part of the Bulldogs’ recent revival, starting every game since round seven, averaging 57 minutes and 116 running metres, including 44 after contact.
His head-on clash with the in-form Warriors middle forwards will be a feature of this contest.
Kiwis and Māori All Star front-rower Leo Thompson will take on the Warriors middles.
NRL/Photosport
What will happen
The Warriors will need to shake off last week’s malaise against one of the improving teams in the competition and need a clinical performance to snap back into contention.
It says here they will do that – Warriors by 10.