Winless Bulldogs make five NRL changes

Canterbury have made five changes to their side for their round-three NRL clash with Wests Tigers.

Dean Pay

Bulldogs coach Dean Pay has made five changes to his side ahead of the NRL's third round. (AAP)

Canterbury coach Dean Pay has swung the axe on his winless side, making a mammoth five changes for their round-three NRL clash with Wests Tigers.

Wingers Christian Crichton and Marcelo Montoya, and forwards Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Danny Fualalo and Jesse Sue, have all been left out of his top-17.

Nick Meaney, Jayden Okunbor, Rhyse Martin, Ofahiki Ogden and Chris Smith have all been called up as pressure mounts to claim their first win.

Meaney, who joined the club from Newcastle over the summer, starts at fullback, with Will Hopoate shifted to the centres to take on an unchanged Tigers side.

The Bulldogs weren't the only side to make sweeping changes for this weekend, with Paul Green also responding swiftly to North Queensland's round-two loss.

Three-quarters Justin O'Neill and Tom Opacic are gone, with Te Maire Martin going to fullback, and Jordan Kahu and Ben Hampton forming a centre pairing.

Youngster Jake Clifford is the new five-eighth in a team noticeably missing the injured Jason Taumalolo, who is replaced by Coen Hess.

Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has handed out a fifth NRL debut across the opening three weeks, with Hudson Young coming in for the injured Joseph Tapine.

St George Illawarra have rushed Korbin Sims back from suspension, as have Parramatta with centre Michael Jennings.

The Eels take on a Sydney Roosters side bolstered by the returns of Cooper Cronk and Jake Friend from injury.

Matt Ikuvalu deputises for the injured Brett Morris.

The troops are also back for a Manly side chasing win number one, with Tom Trbojevic and Addin Fonua-Blake in for Brendan Elliot and Kelepi Tanginoa out.

Penrith have rested Isaah Yeo due to concussion, replaced by Frank Winterstein, however they get Josh Mansour back on the wing.

Brisbane, Newcastle, the Warriors, Cronulla, Melbourne, the Tigers, South Sydney and Gold Coast are all unchanged.


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Source: AAP


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