<p>The Canterbury Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers will kick off the penultimate round of the home and away season at Accor Stadium on Thursday night.</p> <p>Both teams are coming off consecutive losses but after Penrith’s two devastating golden point results, a top four berth looks all but out of reach.</p> <p>Therefore, Ivan Cleary has decided to cut his losses and opted to rest his stars ahead of the finals and their quest for a fifth straight premiership.</p> <p>The Dogs most recently went down to the Storm in Melbourne and may need to return for a qualifying final with third place all but locked away, especially against a weakened Panthers lineup making 16 changes from last week's epic against the Raiders.</p> <p>Matt Eisenhuth will skipper the new look Panthers who have four debutants in their ranks for this one. The Dogs have also made a couple of changes, with Viliame Kikau and Harry Hayes absent here.</p> <p>Josh Curran takes Kikau’s starting spot while Daniel Suluka-Fifita comes onto the bench for Hayes, whose season could be over with a hamstring injury.</p> <p>Check out our Canterbury Bulldogs vs Penrith Panthers match preview for plenty of betting tips and predictions across a host of markets. From H2H to anytime try scorer and everything in between.&nbsp;</p> <p>Looking for all the latest news, analysis, odds, and betting tips ahead of this clash? Check out our Bulldogs vs Panthers prediction below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Bulldogs vs Panthers Prediction and Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>The opening game of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/nrl/predictions/round-26-tips-2025">NRL round 26</a> carries massive implications for the make up of the top four.</p> <p>After losing last week to the Raiders in arguably the most insane way ever seen on a Rugby League pitch, the Panthers remarkable revival has well and truly screeched to a halt.</p> <p>In scenes that had to be seen to be believed, it looked like Nathan Cleary had done it once again for the Panthers as his field goal soared towards the uprights two minutes into their golden point tussle with the Raiders.</p> <p>The Rugby League gods had other ideas, as it crashed off the post and fell to the Raiders who promptly went the length in the same play, scoring one of the tries of the season and winning the match 20-16.</p> <p>This leaves the defending champs in seventh and in real danger of missing out on the top four.</p> <p>They face the third placed Bulldogs this week, who finished their match against the strong like a house on fire, although it was a case of too little too late as they went down 20-14 in Melbourne.</p> <p>Still, if they can pick up where they left off here, we can see them ensuring that this vastly understrength Penrith side will miss out on the top four for the first time in over five years.</p> <p>That will also mean that if Ivan Cleary’s men want to make it five premierships on the spin, they’ll have to make history, as no side outside of the top four has ever lifted the Provans-Summons trophy in the modern era.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Canterbury Bulldogs.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Tryscorer Prediction</h3> <p>In each of Canterbury's last three home matches, their starting right winger has scored at least one try. Here, that man will be Jacob Kiraz and he must be licking his lips after reading the Penrith team list.</p> <p>Against an effectively unrecognisable Panthers side, there should be plenty of opportunities for Kiraz to find the line right from the very start of this game.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Jacob Kiraz.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under Prediction</h3> <p>Five of Canterbury’s last six home matches against reigning premiers have gone over the total match points line.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Over total points.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Line Prediction</h3> <p>Canterbury has failed to cover the line in nine of its last 10 night matches.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> Penrith Panthers (+19.5).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Bulldogs vs Panthers Anytime Tryscorer Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Paul Alamoti</h3> <p>Paul Alamoti has scored at least one try in each of his last six away appearances against opponents that were ranked in the top eight.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Marcelo Montoya</h3> <p>Marcelo Montoya has scored at least one try in each of his last three appearances at Accor Stadium.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jesse McLean</h3> <p>In six of Penrith's last seven away matches, their starting right wing has scored at least one try.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jack Cole</h3> <p>Jack Cole has scored a try in three of his last four away appearances.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Bulldogs vs Panthers Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Canterbury Bulldogs Team List</h3> <p>1. Connor Tracey</p> <p>2. Jacob Kiraz&nbsp;</p> <p>3. Bronson Xerri</p> <p>4. Stephen Crichton</p> <p>5. Marcelo Montoya</p> <p>6. Matt Burton</p> <p>7. Lachlan Galvin</p> <p>8. Max King</p> <p>9. Bailey Hayward</p> <p>10. Sam Hughes</p> <p>11. Josh Curran</p> <p>12. Jacob Preston</p> <p>13. Jaeman Salmon</p> <p>14. Kurt Mann</p> <p>15. Sitili Tupouniua</p> <p>16. Daniel Suluka-Fifita</p> <p>17. Reed Mahoney</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Penrith Panthers Team List</h3> <p>1. Daine Laurie</p> <p>2. Jesse McLean</p> <p>3. Sione Fonua</p> <p>4. David Fale</p> <p>5. Paul Alamoti&nbsp;</p> <p>6. Jack Cole</p> <p>7. Brad Schneider&nbsp;</p> <p>8. Luron Patea</p> <p>9. Luke Sommerton</p> <p>10. Austin Dias</p> <p>11. Zac Lipowicz</p> <p>12. Mavrik Geyer</p> <p>13. Matthew Eisenhuth</p> <p>14. Soni Luke</p> <p>15. Preston Riki&nbsp;</p> <p>16. Riley Price</p> <p>17. Billy Phillips</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Bulldogs vs Panthers Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Thursday, August 28, 2025.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off:</strong> 7:50pm AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Accor Stadium, Sydney.</p>