<p>Four losses from their last five matches have the Canterbury Bulldogs staring down the barrel of a straight-sets exit, and the draw doesn’t get much tougher as they face the Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium on Sunday afternoon.</p> <p>Last week saw the Panthers flick the finals switch once again, as they defeated the Warriors 24-8 and maintained the dream of winning their fifth premiership in a row.</p> <p>Ivan Cleary has chosen an unchanged 17 for the Panthers as they try book themselves a trip to Suncorp Stadium, although Mitch Kenny could return from the reserves.</p> <p>The Bulldogs will attempt to bounce back from their 26-18 loss to the Storm, but could be without skipper and ex-Panther, Stephen Crichton, who has been named in the reserves in the hopes he can somehow play through a syndesmosis injury.</p> <p>Should he fail to get up, Matt Burton will partner the returning Bronson Xerri in the centres while Toby Sexton joins Lachlan Galvin in the halves.</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 Qualifying Final? 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>They planned this all along, didn’t they? Penrith left everyone scratching their heads when they seemingly gave up on securing what was an unlikely, but still available, top four spot a few weeks ago and instead settling for seventh.</p> <p>Well, who’s laughing now? Their final regular season ladder position has turned out to be seventh heaven.</p> <p>They had their way with the wounded Warriors last start and now get to face the beatdown Bulldogs in Sydney.</p> <p>With this game being at Accor Stadium, home ground advantage is effective out the window and the Bulldogs have seen better days in terms of team health.</p> <p>Skipper Stephen Crichton, along with Viliame Kikau and Enari Tuala are all either set to miss this one or are in serious doubt, after their bloodbath down in Melbourne.</p> <p>Out of form and running out of troops, Canterbury appear at the opposite end of the spectrum to the Panthers who are full of running and full of health.</p> <p>They’re also not lacking in big game experience like the Doggies, which tends to happen when you’ve won the last four Grand Finals in a row.</p> <p>Everybody watch out, here come the Panthers.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-penrith-panthers-9622000">Penrith Panthers.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Tryscorer Prediction</h3> <p>Does anyone love a try on the big stage more than this bloke? Brian To'o has scored at least one try in eight of Penrith's last nine finals matches as a favourite.</p> <p>It’s no surprise that Penrith are once again favourites here and based on that stat line, we’ll be taking To’o to touch down for the first try in this one.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-penrith-panthers-9622000">Brian To’o.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under Prediction</h3> <p>Seven of Penrith's last eight Finals away matches have gone under the total match points line.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-penrith-panthers-9622000">Under total match points (39.5).</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Line Prediction</h3> <p>Penrith has covered the line in each of their last six Finals away matches</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-v-penrith-panthers-9622000">Penrith Panthers (-9.5).</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Bulldogs vs Panthers Anytime Tryscorer Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Jacob Kiraz</h3> <p>Jacob Kiraz has scored a try in each of his last six appearances with Canterbury as an underdog.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Casey McLean</h3> <p>Casey McLean has scored at least one try in seven of his last eight appearances.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Viliame Kikau</h3> <p>Viliame Kikau has scored a try in four of his last five appearances with Canterbury as an underdog.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Isaiah Papali'i</h3> <p>Isaiah Papali'i has scored a try in four of his last five appearances.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Liam Martin</h3> <p>Liam Martin has scored a try in each of his last three appearances at Accor Stadium.</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</p> <p>3. Bronson Xerri</p> <p>4. Matt Burton</p> <p>5. Jethro Rinakama</p> <p>6. Lachlan Galvin</p> <p>7. Toby Sexton</p> <p>8. Max King</p> <p>9. Bailey Hayward</p> <p>10. Josh Curran</p> <p>11. Viliame Kikau</p> <p>12. Jacob Preston</p> <p>13. Jaeman Salmon</p> <p>14. Kurt Mann</p> <p>15. Sitili Tupouniua</p> <p>16. Harry Hayes</p> <p>17. Reed Mahoney</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Penrith Panthers Team List</h3> <p>1. Dylan Edwards</p> <p>2. Paul Alamoti</p> <p>3. Izack Tago</p> <p>4. Casey McLean</p> <p>5. Brian To'o&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>6. Blaize Talagi</p> <p>7. Nathan Cleary&nbsp;</p> <p>8. Moses Leota</p> <p>9. Luke Sommerton</p> <p>10. Lindsay Smith</p> <p>11. Scott Sorensen</p> <p>12. Liam Martin</p> <p>13. Isaah Yeo</p> <p>14. Brad Schneider&nbsp;</p> <p>15. Liam Henry&nbsp;</p> <p>16. Isaiah Papali'i</p> <p>17. Luke Garner</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Bulldogs vs Panthers Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday, September 21, 2025.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off:</strong> 4:05pm AEST.</p> <p><strong>Location: </strong>Accor Stadium, Sydney.&nbsp;</p>