Two traditional rivals with finals aspirations collide at Accor Stadium as the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs battle for crucial competition points. With Canterbury chasing a return to the top eight and South Sydney aiming to secure their September spot, the stakes couldn’t be much higher.

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Matchday Details

Friday, 14 August 2026 – 8:00pm AEST – Accor Stadium, Sydney
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Ashley Klein | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey, 2. Jacob Kiraz, 3. Matt Burton, 4. Enari Tuala, 5. Jethro Rinakama, 6. Stephen Crichton (c), 7. Lachlan Galvin, 8. Max King, 9. Bailey Hayward, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Jacob Preston, 13. Jaeman Salmon, 14. Kurt Mann, 15. Josh Curran, 16. Harry Hayes, 17. Alekolasimi Jones, 19. Bronson Xerri, 20. Jake Turpin, 21. Jack Underhill, 22. Sean O’Sullivan, 23. Jonathan Sua

South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Matthew Dufty, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Tallis Duncan, 4. Jack Wighton, 5. Campbell Graham, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Jayden Sullivan, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Brandon Smith, 10. Keaon Koloamatangi, 11. David Fifita, 12. Adam Elliott, 13. Cameron Murray (c), 14. Jye Gray, 15. Lachlan Hubner, 16. Sean Keppie, 17. Euan Aitken, 18. Peter Mamouzelos, 19. Edward Kosi, 20. Jonah Glover, 21. Liam Le Blanc, 22. John Radel

Match Preview

This is another crucial Friday night game with finals implications.

Sitting 13th after Round 11, Canterbury-Bankstown have won seven from their last 10 to be just outside the top eight. While North Queensland are ahead of them and have one more bye left, Canterbury have a superior points differential (-46 to -76).

Canterbury squandered an 18-8 lead against the Sydney Roosters last weekend, losing 20-18. If the Bulldogs want to test themselves against premiership contenders like the Roosters, they’ll need to improve their 66 per cent completion rate, 31 missed tackles, and 17 errors.

In seventh place, Souths are aiming to make their first finals series since 2022. Though injuries have hurt them again (Latrell Mitchell’s absence since Round 11 has been crucial), this time they’ve been more resilient and stayed in the eight all season.

Souths enjoyed a rare home game at Allianz Stadium last weekend, and they made the most of it with a 28-0 half-time lead. Alex Johnston scored a hat-trick at the same venue where he passed Ken Irvine’s tryscoring record in Round 2. Parramatta scored 24 points in the second half to get within four, but two big plays in the final minutes sealed Souths’ win.

The first came after the Eels forced a goal-line drop-out. Souths kicked short, with Tallis Duncan catching the footy. Five tackles later, Cody Walker kicked a 40/20 to ensure Souths kept possession until full-time.

Canterbury and Souths have a proud rivalry (Canterbury leads the overall head-to-head 86 to 82 with four draws): they played in the 2014 Grand Final and have played in the traditional Good Friday afternoon game since 2012. Souths won this year’s Good Friday clash 32-24.

Just one change for Canterbury, with Alekolasimi Jones replacing Sitili Tupouniua (hamstring). For Souths, Ashton Ward is out for the season after injuring his hamstring while taking a conversion kick last weekend – Jayden Sullivan replaces him at halfback. Campbell Graham returns, with Jye Gray shifting to the bench. Jamie Humphreys (ankle) is out, with Euan Aitken, Ed Kosi, and Peter Mamouzelos on the bench.

The key match-up is between the five-eighths Stephen Crichton and Cody Walker. Critta’s move to the 6 jersey has been the catalyst for Canterbury’s revival (as well as the reduction in six-agains helping the Bulldogs reclaim the defensive style that saw them dominate the first half of 2025), with Matt Burton moving to centre. Critta’s move has also helped his halves partner Lachlan Galvin. While there are arguments that Galvin should be playing five-eighth (like he did at the Wests Tigers), the combination with Crichton takes the pressure off him and lets him play footy with minimal distractions.

Cody Walker has been one of the more durable players for Souths (19 games) this season. While his temper can get the better of him sometimes (suspended for one game after kicking Penrith’s Jack Cogger in Round 18), when he stays composed he can be a match-winner. His previously mentioned 40/20 against Parramatta sealed Souths’ win. While Crichton and Galvin have had a few games to gel, Walker will have to take the senior role for the rest of the season as Sullivan replaces Ward.

A Canterbury win puts them back into eighth place (with winnable games against St George Illawarra and Brisbane ahead). Whether they stay there for the rest of the round depends on Saturday’s Parramatta vs North Queensland game. A Souths win all but locks in a finals spot (with 12 wins), and gives them an outside chance of a top four finish, though games against the NZ Warriors and the Roosters will test them.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Bulldogs by 4.
Full Round 24 tips → /nrl-round-24-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Jacob Preston to score a try through his dangerous right edge combination with Lachlan Galvin.

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Andrew Pelechaty
Web Content Editor for Rugby League Zone.

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