AAMI Park hosts one of the games of the round as the Bulldogs look to strengthen their finals credentials against a Storm side battling injuries and desperate to rediscover consistency ahead of September.
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Matchday Details
Friday, 31 July 2026 – 8:00pm AEST – AAMI Park, Melbourne
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Gerard Sutton | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Melbourne Storm: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo, 2. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown, 3. Manaia Waitere, 4. Nick Meaney, 5. Moses Leo, 6. Tyran Wishart, 7. Jahrome Hughes (c), 8. Stefano Utoikamanu, 9. Trent Toelau, 10. Josh King, 11. Cooper Clarke, 12. Oryn Keeley, 13. Trent Loiero, 14. Hayden Watson, 15. Alec MacDonald, 16. Jack Hetherington, 17. Shawn Blore, 18. Joe Chan, 19. Angus Hinchey, 20. Davvy Moale, 21. Stanley Huen, 22. Jai Bowden
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, 18. Jed Reardon, 19. Sean O’Sullivan, 20. Lipoi Hopoi, 21. Jake Turpin, 22. Jonathan Sua
Match Preview
Friday night football heads to AAMI Park with one side desperate to show their finals credentials and another playing for their coach in what could be his final year.
While Melbourne’s season has been frustratingly inconsistent, the Bulldogs arrive with momentum, winning four of their past five matches and climbing back into the top-eight conversation.
Canterbury’s defence has been particularly impressive during that stretch, conceding just 70 points across their last five outings while showing the grit and resilience that has become a hallmark of Cameron Ciraldo’s side.
The Storm, meanwhile, have endured a disrupted campaign and will again be without several key stars. Harry Grant, Cameron Munster, and Will Warbrick remain unavailable, while Jack Howarth has also been ruled out after suffering a shoulder injury at training.
That leaves Jahrome Hughes with an enormous responsibility to steer Melbourne around the park alongside Tyran Wishart and Sua Faalogo.
Canterbury have been boosted by the return of Kurt Mann on the interchange, with the Bulldogs otherwise sticking with the side that comfortably accounted for the second-place Warriors last week.
Through the middle, Max King and Leo Thompson will look to lay the platform as they have done recently, while Viliame Kikau and Jacob Preston provide plenty of strike on the edges, with their returns over the past fortnight showing just how much the Bulldogs missed their presence.
History favours the Storm, who have won eight of the past 10 meetings between the clubs and boast three consecutive victories at AAMI Park. However, it was the Bulldogs who claimed the most recent encounter, running out 30-20 winners in May.
With temperatures expected to hover around eight degrees at kick-off, expect a bruising, finals-style contest where field position and defence become crucial. If Hughes is given time and space, Melbourne can protect its formidable home record.
But if Canterbury wins the middle and maintains its defensive intensity, the Bulldogs have every chance of leaving Melbourne with another valuable two competition points against a weakened Storm outfit.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Bulldogs by 16.
Full Round 22 tips → /nrl-round-22-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Jacob Preston scores a second-half try as the Bulldogs race away late to win.
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Related
- Full Round 22 coverage → /nrl/2026-season/round-22/
- NRL Round 22 Team Lists → /nrl-round-22-team-lists-2026/
- NRL Injury List → /nrl/injuries/
