Sydney Roosters host Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Round 23 of the 2026 NRL season at Allianz Stadium on Friday. Read on for our full match preview, top footy betting tips, and best weekly NRL odds.
A contender for the most anticipated match of the weekend with minor premiership contenders Sydney Roosters and new Top 8 entry Canterbury in outstanding touch.
FORM: The 14-5 Roosters had only occasionally shown their best across 80 minutes, until obliterating the Cowboys 82-12 last week in Townsville – their sixth win on the trot.
The Bulldogs have climbed to eighth with six wins from their last seven, outlasting the depleted Storm 36-22 last week on the back of dominant wins over the Tigers and Warriors.
INS AND OUTS: Lindsay Collins (concussion) returns to the Roosters’ bench, while Billy Smith (illness) is back on the wing for Tommy Talau. Sitili Tupouniua is a huge inclusion on the Bulldogs’ interchange.
KEY MATCH-UP: Leo Thompson met Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris head on a couple of weeks ago and will be eyeing up this clash against potential World Cup teammate Naufahu Whyte, who is one of the NRL’s form front-rowers.
HISTORY: The rivals have split their six matches since the start of 2022 three wins apiece. Last season the Bulldogs won 24-20 at Accor Stadium, before the Roosters turned the tables 32-12 at Allianz Stadium.
KEY STAT: Daniel Tupou has been kept tryless in seven of his last nine games against the Bulldogs, but he grabbed a hat-trick in their most recent clash.
VERDICT: A tremendous litmus test looms for both teams, who have both been chalking up plenty of wins but haven’t been tested by in-form teams.
With Kikau back and Crichton firing at five-eighth, the Bulldogs have emerged as a genuine dark horse. The reshuffle has ignited a stalling attack and their aggression without the ball has returned.
The Roosters have been in cruise control –it will be a new and intriguing challenge for the big guns if the Bulldogs engage them in a high-quality slugfest. The Bulldogs are the clear value in this one as a $3.10 outsider.
Prediction: Back the Bulldogs to Cover the Line (+9.5) @ $1.94
SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 10.5 POINTS / UNDER 44.5 TOTAL POINTS / ROBERT TOIA ANYTIME TRYSCORER / MATT BURTON ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $38.79
Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Odds & Popular Betting Markets
Here’s a quick look at the current odds and popular betting markets for the Sydney Roosters vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs matchup.
*odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change