NRL Match Preview: Rabbitohs vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs RD05, 2026

The South Sydney Rabbitohs will host the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the traditional Good Friday clash this Friday 3 April at Accor Stadium, with kick-off set for 4:05pm. It is the Club's first home game at Accor Stadium for the 2026 season, and a bumper crowd is expected for one of the most anticipated fixtures on the Rugby League calendar.

Gates open at 1:30pm, with the curtain raiser NSW Cup fixture between South Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown kicking off at 1:45pm. Members and fans arriving early can head to the Rabbitohs Fan Zone for face painting, jumping castles and the chance to win prizes courtesy of Wahu, open from 1:30pm to 3:30pm. Match day sponsor Budget Direct will also make one lucky fan $1,000 richer with the Budget Direct Rabbit Run at half time.

In a special moment before the match, South Sydney Rabbitohs modern-day legend Nathan Merritt will ring the Club's Legacy Bell as the Rabbitohs run out for the first half. Merritt, the Club's first grade player number 974, played 218 first grade games for South Sydney over 11 seasons, scoring 146 tries, which at the time was a Club record. A home-grown South Sydney man, Merritt is facing significant health challenges at the moment, and the Rabbitohs are calling on all Members and supporters to get to Friday's match to pay tribute to him and support their team from the stands.

The Good Friday showdown between the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs is one of the most highly anticipated games on the calendar and rarely fails to deliver. South Sydney have won four of the past five Good Friday clashes and arrive at Accor Stadium refreshed after their round four bye, while the Bulldogs come into the match under pressure following a shock loss to the Newcastle Knights.

There is no shortage of individual storylines heading into this one. The contest between Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton and Rabbitoh Jack Wighton looms as a compelling battle across the park, with Wighton expected to apply relentless pressure on the Dogs captain throughout the evening. In the bigger picture, the stage is set for big-game performers Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Matt Burton and Viliame Kikau to impose themselves and look to lead their respective sides to victory in front of what should be an enormous Good Friday crowd.

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs sit in sixth position on the ladder, also with two wins and one loss from three matches. They opened their season with a tight 15-14 win over the St. George Illawarra Dragons, followed by a 14-10 victory over the Canberra Raiders in round three. However, the Bulldogs come into this match off the back of a 16-24 loss to the Newcastle Knights in round four. Captain Stephen Crichton will lead a side featuring the halves combination of Matt Burton and Lachlan Galvin, with the imposing Viliame Kikau in the second row.

With both teams on six competition points and separated by just one spot on the ladder, this Good Friday fixture shapes as a genuine arm-wrestle between two evenly matched sides. The Rabbitohs, captained by Cameron Murray at lock, will be eager to claim their first win at Accor Stadium for the season and reverse the recent head-to-head trend against the Bulldogs.

Team Changes

Rabbitohs Head Coach Wayne Bennett has named Campbell Graham to return on the wing in the number five jersey, with Lachlan Hubner returning to the interchange bench. Salesi Ataata has also been added to the reserves. The backline features Jye Gray at fullback, with Alex Johnston and Campbell Graham on the wings, Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton in the centres, and the halves pairing of Cody Walker and Jamie Humphreys. Captain Cameron Murray will lead the side from lock, with David Fifita and Tallis Duncan in the second row.

For the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Bronson Xerri and Samuel Hughes have been named among the ins, with Harry Hayes also coming onto the interchange bench. Fletcher Baker and Josh Curran are the notable omissions from the squad. Connor Tracey retains the fullback role, with the experienced Matt Burton and young gun Lachlan Galvin steering the side in the halves. Captain Stephen Crichton will line up at centre alongside Enari Tuala.

Recent Results

Round 15, 2025. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24-18 South Sydney Rabbitohs (Accor Stadium).

Round 7, 2025. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 32-0 South Sydney Rabbitohs (Accor Stadium).

Match Details

Fixture: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

Date: Friday 3 April.

Kick-off: 4:05pm (AEDT).

Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney.