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St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs NRL Round 25 Tips & Prediction - Resurgent Dragons look to end Dogs' season

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Thu 20 Aug 2026 02:00

Andrew Hendrie 1 hour ago

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St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs predictions for Saturday's NRL R25
Another tight contest between these teams tipped with Under 43.5 points
Dragons playing best footy of the season & backed to push the Dogs all the way
The game is scheduled for kick off at 7.35pm AEST on Saturday August 22

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs NRL Round 25 Tips & Prediction

A close game with minimal points beckons at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night, with either team 1-12, Dragons +6.5 and Under 43.5 total points the plays. Hamish Stewart has emerged as one of the game's premier second-rowers and is good value for another try.

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs NRL Round 25 Tips & Prediction
Dragons vs Bulldogs Stats & Trends
Dragons vs Bulldogs Head To Head
St George Illawarra Dragons Form Analysis
Canterbury Bulldogs Form Analysis
Dragons vs Bulldogs Team News

You've got to respect what the Dragons are doing at the moment. It's been a nightmare season, but they've never thrown in the towel and now Dean Young's side have the chance to win three games in a row for the first time since 2023.

Daniel Atkinson is much more effective at fullback, Tyrell Sloan is in career-best form before moving to the Super League and the Dragons' young forward pack has been extremely impressive.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs enjoyed a little purple patch of form with Stephen Crichton moving to five-eighth and Viliame Kikau producing some vintage performances, but they've stumbled over the last fortnight, leaving their finals chances in real jeopardy.

Canterbury really should have put the Roosters away with a 10-point lead in the second-half two weeks ago before their much-maligned attack again misfired in a 22-6 loss to the Rabbitohs in Round 24.

Two extremely disappointing results for the Dogs and I wouldn't be surprised if they turn up flat (well, flatter than usual) for this one.

Recent meetings between these teams have been close and low-scoring, so I'm taking the Dragons with a +6.5 start, either team to win by 1-12 and Under 43.5 total points. Hamish Stewart has had a prolific last month and is good value for another try.

Dragons vs Bulldogs Stats & Trends

Dragons have covered a +6.5 line in four of their last six games
Dragons have seen Under 43.5 points in five of their last eight games
Bulldogs have lost their last two games
The last three meetings have been decided by eight points or less
Three of the last four meetings have seen 38 points or less
Hamish Stewart has scored three tries in his last five games & plays 80 mins most weeks in the 2nd row

Dragons vs Bulldogs Head To Head

The Bulldogs have won the last six meetings between the pair, but the most recent encounters have been close, including a 15-14 golden point triumph in Vegas back in Round 1, with Stephen Crichton kicking the match-winning field goal.

Year	Winner	Score	Venue
2026	Canterbury Bulldogs	14-15	Allegiant Stadium
2025	Canterbury Bulldogs	20-18	Accor Stadium
2025	Canterbury Bulldogs	28-20	Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
2024	Canterbury Bulldogs	28-10	Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
2024	Canterbury Bulldogs	44-12	Accor Stadium

St George Illawarra Dragons Form Analysis

After starting the season with 11 consecutive defeats, the Dragons have improved considerably and one more win here could put huge pressure on the Broncos when it comes to the wooden spoon.

The effort has always been there and the Dragons are now getting rewarded for their continued hard work, coming into this clash following back-to-back victories over the Sharks and Tigers.

The 24-16 win over in-form Cronulla was their best performance of the season, while the joint-venture club held firm to topple the embattled Tigers 24-22 last week.

Tyrell Sloan made it eight tries in eight games, while Hamish Stewart continues to lay claims for a Kangaroos' World Cup spot at season's end with another impressive performance.

Canterbury Bulldogs Form Analysis

It's been a chaotic season for the Dogs - they've messed up their spine over the last 12 months and if Jacob Preston departs the club, the fans will be up in arms.

Stephen Crichton is one of the most talented footballers in the world, which is why he's impressing at five-eighth, but he's not a natural playmaker and that's been exposed over the last two weeks when Canterbury needed someone to ice the game against the Chooks and get some points on the board against Souths.

Connor Tracy's poor positioning at fullback cost Canterbury in a 20-18 loss to the Roosters, while Cameron Ciraldo's side didn't recover from the disappointment of being held-up twice in the early stages of last week's defeat to the Rabbitohs, ultimately scoring just one try in a 22-6 defeat.

That loss leaves the Bulldogs in ninth spot on the ladder and needing to win their remaining games and hope other results go their way in order to sneak into the eight.

Dragons vs Bulldogs Team News

Josh Kerr comes in for Blake Lawrie on the bench for the Dragons, with Dan Atkinson remaining at fullback.

Jethro Rinakama is out for the rest of the year with a knee injury, so Enari Tuala moves to the wing and Bronson Xerri gets a recall at centre. Sean O'Sullivan comes onto the interchange.

Dragons	Position	Bulldogs
Daniel Atkinson	Fullback	Connor Tracey
Mathew Feagai	Winger	Jacob Kiraz
Moses Suli	Centre	Matt Burton
Valentine Holmes	Centre	Bronson Xerri
Tyrell Sloan	Winger	Enari Tuala
Lyhkan King-Togia	Five-Eighth	Stephen Crichton (captain)
Kyle Flanagan	Halfback	Lachlan Galvin
Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga	Prop	Max King
Jacob Liddle	Hooker	Bailey Hayward
Emre Guler	Prop	Leo Thompson
Dylan Egan	Second Row	Viliame Kikau
Hamish Stewart	Second Row	Jacob Preston
Ryan Couchman	Lock	Jaeman Salmon
Damien Cook (captain)	Interchange	Kurt Mann
Toby Couchman	Interchange	Josh Curran
Jacob Halangahu	Interchange	Harry Hayes
Jacob Webster	Interchange	Alekolasimi Jones
Setu Tu	Interchange	Jake Turpin
Josh Kerr	Interchange	Sean O'Sullivan
Blake Lawrie	Reserve	Jed Reardon
Luciano Leilua	Reserve	Jonathan Sua
Kade Reed	Reserve	Jack Underhill

Verdict

St George Illawarra Dragons v Canterbury Bulldogs

It's shaping as another tight contest between these teams - take the Dragons with a +6.5 start, either team 1-12 & Under 43.5 points, with Stewart the value tryscorer prop.