Home
NRL

This preview has expired.

See all our latest betting tips or suggested betting sites

Saturday 25
Sunday 26
Monday 27
Tuesday 28
Wednesday 29
Thursday 30
Friday 31
Saturday 1
Sunday 2
Monday 3
Tuesday 4

Canterbury Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors NRL Tips - Dogs to leave Warriors' top four hopes in tatters

Andrew Hendrie

Editor

Last updated: Thu 07 Aug 2025 13:25

Andrew Hendrie 07 Aug 2025

Share this article

Canterbury Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors expert predictions for Saturday's NRL Round 23 game
Kick off is at 7.35pm AEST at Accor Stadium
Low-scoring game expected, with Bulldogs covering a -7.5 line
Warriors have lost four of their last six & are struggling without Metcalfe
Preview, expert analysis, stats, team news & best bets

Canterbury Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors NRL Tips

Canterbury Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors, NRL Round 23 - Expert Prediction

It's a top four blockbuster to conclude Super Saturday as the Bulldogs and Warriors collide at Accor Stadium, with both teams looking to bounce back from disappointing last-start defeats.

Canterbury Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors, NRL Round 23 - Expert Prediction
Bulldogs vs Warriors NRL Round 23 Cheat Sheet
Head To Head
Canterbury Bulldogs Form Analysis
Canterbury Bulldogs Team News
Canterbury Bulldogs Team List
New Zealand Warriors Form Analysis
New Zealand Warriors Team News
New Zealand Warriors Team List

Canterbury were outmuscled and outclassed by an inspired Tigers team with a point to prove last week, while the Warriors have been struggling considerably without the services of halfback Luke Metcalf, going down in a heartbreaking two-point defeat to the Dolphins on the siren at home. The Dogs missed out on a golden chance to improve their minor premiership credentials with Canberra's defeat to the Dragons, while the Warriors are in very real danger of crashing out of the top four for the first time since Round 7, with the Panthers and Broncos breathing down their necks.

Suffice to say, this is a huge game for both teams, but I'm backing the Bulldogs to reverse their fortunes from last week. That wasn't just any ordinary game with the whole Lachlan Galvin saga attached to it and if the Tigers could play with that intensity every week, they'd probably be in the top eight. The Dogs, for whatever reason, have also been shocking in wet weather conditions all year. Cameron Ciraldo certainly won't be hitting the panic button and Canterbury will go back to the basics in this clash, controlling field position with Matt Burton's kicking game and suffocating the Warriors' with their relentless defensive pressure.

I'm taking the Bulldogs at a -7.5 line, Under 42.5 total points (both team's attacks are struggling big time right now) and winger Jethro Rinakama to cross for a try as the best bets for Saturday's clash.

Bulldogs have won the last two meetings between the teams
Warriors have lost four of their last six games
Warriors have failed to cover a -7.5 line in five of their seven defeats this season
Bulldogs have covered a -7.5 line in 10 of their 14 wins this season
Under 42.5 points has landed in seven of the Bulldogs' last eight games
Under 42.5 points has landed in four of the Warriors' last five games
Under 42.5 points has landed in five of the last seven meetings between the teams
Jethro Rinakama has scored a try in two of his three NRL games this season

Bulldogs vs Warriors NRL Round 23 Cheat Sheet

Head To Head

The Bulldogs have only won two of their last eight encounters with the Warriors, but they were the two most-recent in 2024. Matt Burton's field goal in golden point handed the Dogs a 13-12 victory in Round 18 before a 34-18 triumph in Round 25.

Canterbury Bulldogs Form Analysis

After going 11-2 to start the season, the Bulldogs have been average in registering a 3-3 record since their Round 16 bye.

Whatever you make of the situation, you can't tell me Galvin's arrival hasn't disrupted the club in one way or another. Toby Sexton has got to be the first halfback to be dropped after guiding his side to the top of the table and he could actually be in line for a surprise return here, with Galvin reportedly nursing niggling hand and ankle injuries that might require painkilling injections to get him on the field.

Ciraldo needs to turn the sprinklers on at training as Canterbury just can't seem to play in the wet, with three of their five defeats coming during heavy downpours - including last week's 28-14 loss to the Tigers, where they were out-enthused in all aspects by a team holding a grudge and a point to prove.

Canterbury Bulldogs Team News

Ciraldo has stuck firm with the same 17 players that went down to the Tigers, but Galvin remains questionable with those hand and ankle problems.

Canterbury Bulldogs Team List

1. Jacob Kiraz

2. Jethro Rinakama

3. Bronson Xerri

4. Stephen Crichton

5. Enari Tuala

6. Matt Burton

7. Lachlan Galvin

8. Max King

9. Reed Mahoney

10. Samuel Hughes

11. Viliame Kikau

12. Jacob Preston

13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange

14. Kurt Mann

15. Harry Hayes

16. Josh Curran

17. Bailey Hayward

Reserves

19. Mitchell Woods

20. Blake Wilson

21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita

22. Kurtis Morrin

23. Toby Sexton

New Zealand Warriors Form Analysis

The Warriors' problems actually started one week before Connor Metcalfe went down with a season-ending ACL injury when the Kiwi club lost at home to a second-string Panthers side missing all of their Origin stars. Metcalfe injured his knee in the loss to Brisbane the following week - and while wins over the lowly Tigers and Knights softened the blow, it's been clear over the last fortnight just how much the Warriors are missing their halfback.

Indeed, the Warriors come into this clash following back-to-back defeats against the Titans and Dolphins at home, falling in heartbreaking circumstances last week as they conceded a last-second try to go down 20-18. However, you could argue that was luck evening itself out as the Warriors snatched their own last-second win over the Knights a couple of weeks ago after being decidedly second-best the entire contest.

Apart from Leka Halasima, there's not much spark about the Warriors right now and Tanah Boyd, with all due respect, isn't anywhere close to the level Metcalf was throughout the season.