NRL LIVE: Bulldogs take on the Rabbitohs in Easter blockbuster

Lachie Hubner has just come off for after a concussion he suffered attempting to tackle Jacob Kiraz.

It’s a category-one concussion, which means he won’t return and will also miss the next match.

The Bulldogs are right on top at the moment.

It’s been all Canterbury in the opening exchanges.

The game has been played predominantly in South Sydney’s half, the result of a slew of errors and penalties.

Wayne Bennett’s side will do well here to restrict Canterbury’s advantage, especially now that Euan Aitken has been sent to the sin bin for a professional foul.

Interesting decision by the Bulldogs to take the penalty goal, given the Dogs are down a man and on the rack.

Stephen Crichton extends the lead to 8-0 after 18 minutes.

Josh Curran has just crossed for the opening try of the game.

The underrated Canterbury forward put on a tremendous left-foot step to break through the line and plant the Steeden down.

It all comes back to a costly error from the Rabbitohs in their own territory.

Stephen Crichton’s conversion is successful, it’s 6-0 in favour of Canterbury after 12 minutes.

Toby Sexton has earned his side the first repeat set of the day with a pinpoint grubber into the opposition in-goal.

Interesting time for the Canterbury halfback. He’s off contract despite leading the Dogs to the top of the NRL ladder, at a time when Daly Cherry-Evans and Lachlan Galvin are seeking a new home.

Then there’s Mitchell Woods, a promising playmaker the club feels will become the long-term No.7.

How will it all play out?

Strap yourselves in, this has got a finals feel about it.

The top decks at Accor Stadium is filling fast. Will we get to 70,000 fans?

That would be some effort considering the Dogs and Rabbits have hardly had any publicity all week because of the Wests Tigers and Lachie Galvin dramas.
The sun is out and the deck is fast, so expect plenty of points.
The Dogs are fresh, and Souths only had the one light gallop after returning from Perth.
I’m tipping the Bulldogs to win comfortably.

The one and only time I witnessed Lewis Dodd play in the flesh, he kicked a golden-point field goal to sink the Panthers in the 2023 World Club Challenge.

That effort immediately put him on the radar of Australian clubs, and he eventually ended up at South Sydney. Injuries and suspensions have conspired against the halfback this season, but he will finally get the chance to make his NRL debut today, in the No.14 jersey.

And what a stage to do it on, against the top team in the competition, in front of an expected record crowd.

Plenty of English players have made their mark on the NRL, but they are usually forwards rather than halves (I reckon Gareth Widdop was the last playmaker to do it).

Let’s see if Dodd is up to it.

Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker have never played together in the halves.

So how does Walker get his great mate into the game?

“We don’t say to much when we are out there,” Walker told Nine.

“My job is quite simple; get him into the game early and let him do his thing.

“He’s shown over the last couple of weeks that when he touches the ball, good things happen.

“Just getting him into the game and getting him the ball is my job.”