Sunday double: Bulldogs v Sea Eagles; Raiders outclass Knights

Our final game in Round 21 takes us to Allianz Stadium where the high-flying Bulldogs take on Tom Turbo's Sea Eagles, who are riding high on the back of an upset win over the Storm in Melbourne.

The Green Machine have won eight from nine at home this season, averaging 28 points per game on their own patch and playing some exhilarating football.

The Raiders' pursuit of a first minor premiership since 1990 continues in the national capital on Sunday when they welcome the Knights to GIO Stadium.

Sea Eagles : Gordon Chan Kum Tong has been added to the bench on Saturday with Jake Simpkin entering the HIA protocol after receiving an elbow to the head last weekend in Melbourne. Haumole Olakau'atu is preparing for his first game since dislocating his shoulder in Round 15 and comes straight back into the starting side. Jason Saab will play his 100th NRL game. No further changes in Sunday's final team update with Tommy Talau remaining 18th man.

Bulldogs: Bronson Xerri is on track to return from a groin injury, however Sitili Tupouniua has succumbed to a hamstring injury after just one game back from injury. Sam Hughes will start at prop, with Josh Curran on the bench to cover for Tupouniua's absence. Xerri's return will see Enari Tuala shift to the wing and Jethro Rinakama move to 18th man as the Bulldogs celebrate the 30th anniversary of their 1995 grand final victory over Manly. Canterbury will line up 1-17 with Jethro Rinakama the 18th man.

Kick-off: We are underway in front of a big crowd at Allianz Stadium with the Bulldogs looking to commemorate their 1995 grand final triumph with a win over their fierce rivals. The match carries some added modern spice after Manly knocked Canterbury out of the finals last year. The Sea Eagles are in a tight tussle for spaces inside the top eight and need to extend a three-game winning streak to remain in the finals mix. Bulldogs 0 - Sea Eagles 0.

6th minute: It's been a high-quality start to the game with both sides posing plenty of questions with ball in hand. Manly are the first to crack, with Tolu Koula making an error in the play the ball to hand the Bulldogs the first attacking opportunity of the contest. Bulldogs 0 - Sea Eagles 0.

8th minute: Manly hold firm defensively and they've now received an exit out of their own end, with the Bulldogs in front of the kicker on their last tackle play. Bulldogs 0 - Sea Eagles 0.

9th minute: Another attacking opportunity coming up for the Bulldogs with Jake Trbojevic penalised for a strip. We'll see if they can break through for the first points of the game. Bulldogs 0 - Sea Eagles 0.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next NRL Press Conference: Raiders v Knights - Round 21, 2025

Press Conferences: Make sure you tune into the live stream to check out what the captains and coaches have to say after an interesting battle at GIO Stadium.

Full-time: Newcastle battled hard throughout the first half and a try on the stroke of half-time had the visitors full of energy heading into the break. Canberra, however, were clinical in the second half to score four tries and blow their opponents away. Jamal Fogarty's kicking game was superb, while Matt Timoko scored a double as the Raiders secured their ninth-straight victory and maintained their lead at the top of the ladder. Raiders 44 - Knights 18.

76th minute: Another trip to the Bunker with Corey Horsburgh claiming a try. The forward produced a grubber to the in-goal and looked to beat Dane Gagai to the ball. The video referee ruled Horsburgh did get to the ball first but knocked it on while trying to ground it. Raiders 44 - Bulldogs 18.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Matthew Timoko 2nd Try

73rd minute: We are back to the Bunker with the referee sending a potential Matt Timoko try upstairs as a no try. Noah Martin was the lead runner who ran to Jack Cogger's outside shoulder. The Bunker has ruled Cogger made a defensive read to play the man rather than push on to the player out the back, Kaeo Weekes produced a brilliant tip on and Timoko did the rest. Canberra have piled on the points in the second half, scoring 26 points to break the game open. Raiders 44 - Knights 18.

71st minute: Ricky Stuart's men continue to pile on the pressure, with the Raiders rolling down the field and forcing a line dropout. The short kick-off sailed into touch and the hosts have a fresh set to attack. Raiders 38 - Knights 18

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Noah Martin Try

68th minute: The Raiders are well on their way to victory now. A Hudson Young break put the hosts on the front foot, with Jed Stuart coming agonisingly close to scoring. Jamal Fogarty produced a pinpoint bomb the next play and Newcastle were unable to clean it up. Noah Martin was on the spot to ground the ball and score his first NRL try in just his fourth game. Raiders 38 - Knights 18

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next No one is catching that one

58th minute: Two more points for the Raiders after Dane Gagai was unable to catch a brutal bomb that swirled around in the heavy breeze. Dom Young picked up the ball in an offside position and Jamal Fogerty made no mistake with the penalty goal to extend his side's lead beyond two converted tries. Raiders 32 - Knights 18.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Matthew Timoko 1st Try

55th minute: The Raiders didn't just survive, they've gone the length of the field to extend their lead. A set restart late in the tackle count handed the hosts a fresh set and Matt Timoko capitalised, bursting through the line to score. Raiders 30 - Knights 18.

53rd minute: Canberra dodge a bullet, with the right edge defence rushing in to shut down the Knights and force an error. The Raiders maintain a six-point lead. Raiders 24 - Knights 18.

51st minute: Newcastle have a chance to hit straight back. Dom Young broke free and raced 50 metres downfield before being dragged down. The referee spotted a crusher tackle in the collision and has placed Hudson Young on report. Young came close moments later, however was stopped by a desperate Ethan Strange. The tackle was a shoulder charge, with Strange put on report and Newcastle receiving a fresh set of six. Raiders 24 - Knights 18.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Tom Starling Try

47th minute: We are off to the Bunker as the Raiders claim the opening points of the half. There's a lot to unpack here with a tackle in the air, a potential pass off the ground and a potential obstruction. Xavier Savage has soared through the air to pluck a claim a bomb, the winger then offloaded after falling to the ground, with the Bunker ruling he was not held. After some hot potato Tom Starling burst through the defensive line and the Bunker again ruled in Canberra's favour. The on-field referee had cited obstruction, but the Bunker said the Newcastle player made a defensive error and awarded the try. Raiders 24 - Knights 18.

Kick-off: We are back at a cold and wet GIO Stadium, with the Knights pushing for their third-straight win at the venue. A try on the stroke of half-time has given the visitors plenty of confidence and they'll need to start fast to head off a second-half onslaught from the competition leaders. Raiders 18 - Knights 18.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Fletcher Hunt Try

Half-time: You'd hate to be a Raiders player walking into the sheds right now. Rather than take the safe option before half-time, Canberra opted to attack from deep inside their own half. Fletcher Hunt was wise to the move and took an intercept as the siren sounded to level the scores. Ricky Stuart will not be happy. Raiders 18 - Knights 18

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Xavier Savage Try

38th minute: These Raiders can strike from anywhere. Newcastle produced a superb set of six after points, but they failed to finish it off and a poor kick chase allowed Xavier Savage to put his team on the front foot with a good kick return. From there Canberra rolled down the field before they ran it on the last, with Savage finishing off some slick passing to put his team back in front on the stroke of half-time. There was a slight delay before the conversion with strong winds blowing the ball off the kicking tee. That didn't stop Jamal Fogarty, who nailed the tough conversion despite the wind and driving rain. Raiders 18 - Knights 12.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Greg Marzhew Try

35th minute: This time the Knights capitalise on their field position, with Greg Marzhew finishing off a left-edge play to score untouched in the corner. Newcastle have controlled the past 10 minute of this contest and they've been rewarded for their efforts as we edge towards half-time. Raiders 12 - Knights 12.

33rd minute: Simple errors have been an issue for the Knights this season and they've made another here. Jermaine McEwen forced a second line dropout with another deft kick, however Jack Hetherington was pinged for an incorrect play the ball. The Raiders handed possession straight back to their opponents when Morgan Smithies was called out for the same indiscretion. Raiders 12 - Knights 6.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next What a dropout

30th minute: The Knights have claimed the upper hand in the past few minutes, with the injection of Tyson Frizell to the contest helping the visitors roll through the middle of the field. The pressure has led to a result, with Newcastle forcing a line drop out and earning a chance to attack. Raiders 12 - Knights 6.

24th minute: The Raiders have got another result from a bomb to Greg Marzhew, with the winger spilling another high ball. It didn't take long for the Raiders to capitalise, with Simi Sasagi beating to Newcastle defenders in the first play from the scrum. Raiders 12 - Knights 6

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Kai Pearce-Paul Try

18th minute: Capitalise they do. The Knights threatened on multiple plays in their first trip to the red zone and a charging Leo Thompson has laid the platform for their first points of the day. The forward took advantage of a disjointed defensive line before producing a superb offload for Kai Pearce-Paul to score. Raiders 6 - Knights 6.

17th minute: A Corey Horsburgh knock on brought the attacking play to an abrupt end and the Raiders have now compounded the error by conceding a pair of penalties to hand Newcastle prime attacking position. Opportunities have been limited for the Knights, so we'll see if they can capitalise. Raiders 6 - Knights 0.

15th minute: The Raiders continue to pepper Greg Marzhew with bombs and the Knights winger is struggling to navigate the aerial contests. This time he's spilled the ball, handing the hosts a fresh set of six to attack. Raiders 6 - Knights 0.

Up Next / Cancel Replay Play Next Kaeo Weekes Try

10th minute: It's been a frantic few minutes and the Raiders have struck first through a superb long-range try. A midfield shift saw Canberra find space out wide, before Jed Stuart reeled in a Simi Sasagi offload. The winger broke free and had plenty of support inside him, with Kaeo Weekes finishing it off to score his eighth try of the year. Raiders 6 - Knights 0.

8th minute: We have an early Captain's Challenge with the Knights questioning the on-field decision of knock on. The Bunker agrees, with Newcastle gaining possession.

The challenge came after a Corey Horsburgh charge down. The forward gathered the ball before passing to Hudson Young, who was reeled in. Young got up to play the ball, Horsburgh switched off and Dane Gagai dived on the loose ball to secure possession. Raiders 0 - Knights 0

7th minute: It's been an even start to the contest, with both teams still feeling out their opponents. The Raiders just had the best opportunity of the match thus far, with Xavier Savage outleaping Greg Marzhew in the contest for a bomb. The winger was unable to secure the ball and the Knights survive an early scare. Raiders 0 - Knights 0.n

Kick-off: The Viking Clap has rung out around GIO Stadium, both teams are on the field and we are underway in cold and gloomy conditions in the nation's capital. The hosts have been superb at home this season and they're eager to keep the momentum rolling as they charge towards the minor premiership. Newcastle have battled away through the middle stages of their campaign and need a win to keep their top-eight chances alive. Raiders 0 - Knights 0.

Stat Attack

The Raiders have won seven from eight at GIO Stadium this season.

The Knights have won four of their past six games against the Raiders.

Raiders winger Xavier Savage has scored 10 tries in his last 11 games at GIO Stadium.

The Knights have won three of their past four away games.

Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange has scored five tries in his last six games.

Late Mail

Raiders: Simi Sasagi is set to start at centre after Seb Kris was ruled out with a concussion, with Noah Martin added to the bench for his fourth first-grade game. The Raiders are otherwise settled as they look to solidify their place at the top of the ladder and will line up 1-17. Manaia Waitere is the 18th man.

Knights: With Bradman Best sidelined by a knee injury, Kyle McCarthy moves into the centres in jersey No.22. Forward Brodie Jones had been listed in the reserves as he looked to return from illness but he dropped out of the squad on Saturday. Coach Adam O'Brien made one more change in the final team update, with Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings trading places. Gamble will now start at five-eighth, with Hastings coming off the bench.

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