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Gold Coast Titans vs Canterbury Bulldogs NRL Round 9 Tips - Doggies Defence Dominates

ryan-tucker
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Last updated: 02 May 2025
Ryan Tucker 02 May 2025
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  • Gold Coast Titans vs Canterbury Bulldogs expert predictions for Sunday’s Round 9 NRL game
  • Kick off is at 1:50 PM (AEST) at Suncorp Stadium
  • Bulldogs predicted to win despite player suspensions.
  • Titans' defensive struggles persist under new coach.
  • Bulldogs lead in attack stats; key player Jacob Preston in good form.
Dogs defence tipped to be the difference!

Gold Coast Titans vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Round 9 2025 - Expert Prediction


Despite the Dogs missing a number of players through suspension they will get the win over a terrible defensive outfit in the Gold Coast.
  • Gold Coast Titans vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Round 9 2025 - Expert Prediction
  • Head to Head 
  • Gold Coast Titans Form Analysis & Betting Trends
  • Recent Form
  • 2025 Betting Trends
  • Gold Coast Titans Team News
  • Gold Coast Titans Team List
  • Canterbury Bulldogs Form Analysis & Betting Trends
  • Recent Form
  • 2025 Betting Trends
  • Canterbury Bulldogs Team News
  • Canterbury Bulldogs Team List

The Titans are in trouble. Their defensive statistics under Des Hasler absolutely stink and he was brought in to fix that exact problem. They rank 16th in opposition Run Metres, 17th in opposition Linebreaks and 16th in average Points Conceded over the last 5 games (33.2 pts/gm).

Whilst Canterbury will be without Matt Burton, Josh Curran and Sitili Tupouniua, they were able to show earlier this season that their team structures still apply no matter who is in what position. They concede the fewest points per game of any team in the league and rank 4th on the season in Points Scored.

My expectation in this game is that the Bulldogs will severely limit the chances that the Titans have to score while dominating territory and possession themselves. When they are in their attacking zone, there will be little in their way to stop the points piling on.

Take the Bulldogs 13+ and to go Over their Team total. Jacob Preston is in good tryscoring form, let’s jump on him for a 4 pointer in this one!

  • 86% of Titans games and 71% of Bulldogs games this season have been decided by 13+ points.
  • The Titans are one of, if not THE worst defensive teams in the league. The Bulldogs are top 4 in attack.
  • Jacob Preston has scored in 3 of his last 4 games.
  • Gold Coast have conceded the first try in 4 of last 5 games.
  • Bulldogs have scored first in 6 of last 7 games.

Head to Head 


The Bulldogs have won 2 straight and 4 of the last 5 against the Titans dating back to the start of the 2019 season. They hold a 5-4 advantage in the head to head across the 9 games played.

The Game Total has alternated between Over and Under the past 7 games with the Over hitting earlier this season. 6 of 9 games have finished with a 1-12 win margin.

The Bulldogs are 7-2 ATS in this period.

Gold Coast Titans Form Analysis & Betting Trends


Recent Form


Last 5 W/LLast 5 ATSLast 5 O/U
1-42-32-3

The Titans were manhandled last weekend by the Cowboys, going down 50-18 for their 4th straight loss. They sit 14th on the ladder but only 2 points and some points differential outside of the top 8.

Gold Coast were dominated in the Territory game with their opponent holding a 63%-37% advantage over the course of the game. It mirrors similar season stats that put the Titans at 15th in the league in average Territory and 16th in average Possession. 

They are allowing opponents an average of 1558 Run Metres per game (16th), 6.9 Linebreaks (17th) and 33.3 Tackles Inside 20m (12th) pointing to severe deficiencies in defence that have been saved by dynamic attack in the games they have won.

2025 Betting Trends


ATSOver/Under1-1213+
3-43-40-12-4

Gold Coast Titans Team News


David Fifita has found himself on the outer once again, being named in the reserves. Klese Haas and Josiah Pahulu both join the interchange with suspensions to Jaimin Jolliffe and Brock Gray.

Gold Coast Titans Team List


1. Jaylan de Groot
2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira
3. Brian Kelly
4. Phillip Sami
5. Jojo Fifita 
6. AJ Brimson 
7. Tom Weaver 
8. Mo Fotuaika
9. Sam Verrills
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11. Chris Randall 
12. Beau Fermor 
13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui

Interchange
14. Klese Haas
15. Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui
16. Arama Hau
17. Josiah Pahulu

Reserves
18. Tony Francis 
19. David Fifita 
20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke
21. Tukimihia Simpkins
​​​​​​​22. Allan Fitzgibbon


Canterbury Bulldogs Form Analysis & Betting Trends


Recent Form


Last 5 W/LLast 5 ATSLast 5 O/U
4-13-21-4

The Bulldogs dropped their first game of the year last weekend against the Broncos and boy was it a big one. They went into the halftime break down 34-0 after sinking in quicksand in tough conditions at Suncorp Stadium.

Canterbury had just 48 runs in the first half for 322 Metres, almost half of their previous lowest total for the first 40 minutes of play. Also a stark comparison to the week before vs South Sydney where they had 114 runs for 1033 Metres. 

After the break, it was a different story with Canterbury winning the second half, not just on the scoreboard but in most statistical categories. The deficit was just too large to reap back.

The team still ranks 3rd in Total Run Metres and Tackles inside 20m as well as 2nd in Territory and Possession on the season.

2025 Betting Trends


ATSOver/Under1-1213+
5-23-42-04-1

Canterbury Bulldogs Team News


Three suspensions for the Dogs after last week’s defeat. Matt Burton is replaced at five-eighth by Bailey Hayward, Josh Curran will miss 3 games for a shoulder charge - Daniel Suluka-Fifita comes into the starting side this week for him. 

Sitili Tupouniua has a massive 5 week ban for two separate incidents, Kurtis Morrin comes onto the pine as his replacement.

Canterbury Bulldogs Team List


1. Connor Tracey 
2. Jacob Kiraz 
3. Bronson Xerri 
4. Stephen Crichton 
5. Marcelo Montoya 
6. Bailey Hayward
7. Toby Sexton 
8. Max King
9. Reed Mahoney 
10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita
11. Viliame Kikau 
12. Jacob Preston 
13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange
14. Kurt Mann
15. Harry Hayes
16. Kurtis Morrin 
17. Blake Taaffe 

Reserves
19. Lipoi Hopoi
20. Blake Wilson 
21. Jake Turpin 
​​​​​​​22. Luke Smith
23. Drew Hutchison


Verdict

Take the Bulldogs 13+ and to go Over their Team total. Jacob Preston is in good tryscoring form, let’s jump on him for a 4 pointer in this one!
Best Bet1: Bulldogs 13+ Winning Margin $2.10 at dabble - 3 Units
Best Bet2: Dogs Over 28.5 Team Total $1.90 at Elitebet - 2 Units
Best Bet3: Jacob Preston Anytime Tryscorer $3.00 at Neds - 1 Unit
Best Bet4: Jacob Preston First Tryscorer $17.00 at dabble - 1 Unit
Bulldogs 13+
Winning Margin
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Gold Coast Titans v Canterbury Bulldogs