Panthers v Bulldogs: Cole in for Cogger; Tuala good to go

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Fri 28 Aug 2026, 06:40 PM

The Panthers have once again put themselves in a striking position late in the season with a fourth minor premiership in seven years beckoning.

With games against the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers to come, the team of the decade can start planning for an all-out assault on another premiership to go with the 2021, '22, '23 and '24 titles.

Standing in their way on Friday night will be a desperate Bulldogs outfit still clinging to their own finals dream and a shot at breaking a premiership drought that stretches all the way back to 2004.

The Bulldogs have more than enough firepower to cause the Panthers problems and this promises to be a cracking contest with so much at stake for both sides,

How Bulldogs playmaker Lachlan Galvin copes with the intense pressure from a rushing Penrith defence will go a long way towards deciding his team's fate as they look to stay alive in the race for the eight.

Round 26 - Round 26 - Friday 28 Aug

Full Time

Panthers

Bulldogs

Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Highlights Latest

Team News

Panthers: Jack Cole takes over at five-eighth in his third NRL game of the season with Jack Cogger serving a three-game ban for a careless high tackle. Blaize Talagi has been added to the bench after playing NSW Cup the past two weeks. The Panthers have won nine of their last 11 games against the Bulldogs. Kalani Going has been added to the six-man interchange 90 minutes before kick-off with Jaxen Edgar making way.

Bulldogs: Cooper Toy has been added to the bench 90 minutes before kick-off in No.23 and could make his NRL debut. Eight players were sidelined from training on Monday due to illness but coach Cameron Ciraldo said that was mainly precautionary and everyone had "bounced into training on Wednesday and we are ready to go". On a positive note, Enari Tuala returns on the wing after missing last week's game with a knee injury. Utility Kurt Mann (groin) is sidelined so Jed Reardon has been added to the bench. Recently re-signed back-rower Jacob Preston has scored six tries in his last four games against the Panthers.

Round 26 - Round 26 - Friday 28 Aug

Full Time

Panthers

Bulldogs

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Panthers is number 1 Dylan Edwards

Fullback for Bulldogs is number 1 Connor Tracey
Winger for Panthers is number 2 Thomas Jenkins

Winger for Bulldogs is number 2 Jacob Kiraz
Centre for Panthers is number 3 Izack Tago

Centre for Bulldogs is number 3 Matt Burton
Centre for Panthers is number 4 Casey McLean

Centre for Bulldogs is number 4 Bronson Xerri
Winger for Panthers is number 5 Brian To'o

Winger for Bulldogs is number 5 Enari Tuala
Five-Eighth for Panthers is number 6 Jack Cole

Five-Eighth for Bulldogs is number 6 Stephen Crichton
Halfback for Panthers is number 7 Nathan Cleary

Halfback for Bulldogs is number 7 Lachlan Galvin

Forwards

Prop for Panthers is number 8 Moses Leota

Prop for Bulldogs is number 8 Max King
Hooker for Panthers is number 9 Freddy Lussick

Hooker for Bulldogs is number 9 Bailey Hayward
Prop for Panthers is number 10 Liam Henry

Prop for Bulldogs is number 10 Leo Thompson
2nd Row for Panthers is number 11 Isaiah Papali'i

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 11 Viliame Kikau
2nd Row for Panthers is number 12 Liam Martin

2nd Row for Bulldogs is number 12 Jacob Preston
Lock for Panthers is number 13 Lindsay Smith

Lock for Bulldogs is number 13 Jaeman Salmon

Interchange

Interchange for Panthers is number 14 Billy Scott

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 14 Jake Turpin
Interchange for Panthers is number 15 Scott Sorensen

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 15 Alekolasimi Jones
Interchange for Panthers is number 16 Luke Garner

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 16 Harry Hayes
Interchange for Panthers is number 17 Billy Phillips

Interchange for Bulldogs is number 23 Cooper Toy
Reserve for Panthers is number 18 Blaize Talagi

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 17 Josh Curran
Reserve for Panthers is number 20 Kalani Leuluai-Going

Reserve for Bulldogs is number 19 Sean O'Sullivan

Match Officials

Referee: Gerard Sutton
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 8/30/2026 12:44:02 PM

Stat Attack

The Panthers have won nine of their last 11 games against the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have lost seven of their last eight games at CommBank Stadium.
Panthers winger Brian To’o has scored six tries in his last eight games against the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs back-rower Jacob Preston has scored six tries in his last four games against the Panthers.
Panthers second-rower Isaiah Papali’i will achieve his 200 NRL game milestone.

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.