Battling Bulldogs up against Bennett’s Broncos, Cowboys riding through the destruction of Debbie with the return of Taumalolo and the Dragons in fire-breathing form: it shapes as another huge week of rugby league on Nine.

It starts with the Bulldogs versus Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Nine’s Wide World of Sports will deliver its live and free coverage from ANZ Stadium in a game where tempers are tipped to boil over. 

The Bulldogs failed to score a point last week against the Sea Eagles and coach Des Hasler will need to draw on all of his experience and tactical nous to put the bite back into the “Dogs of War”.  

Broncos mastermind Wayne Bennett will make sure his squad is ready for an ambush from a Bulldogs side boasting one of the biggest forward packs in the competition. 

Nine’s rugby league expert, Darren Lockyer, says: “All the criticism of the Bulldogs this week will only make the assignment harder for the Broncos. The Bulldogs need to start well to boost their confidence, and they can do this via their big forward pack. So expect the early exchanges to be fiery.

“The key for the Broncos is to put pressure on them with the scoreboard. Wayne would be reminding his players about how much flak the Bulldogs have copped this week.”

Lockyer’s player to watch is David Klemmer: “He’ll be the one to spark the aggression the Bulldogs need to get away to a good start – I imagine there’ll be a few melees early and he’ll be front and centre.”

Friday Night Football takes us to Townsville where the Cowboys will be out to lift the spirits of the locals after Cyclone Debbie ravaged much of Far North Queensland. 

The Rabbitohs are flying into the eye of their own storm. Can they weather a Cowboys attack with Johnathan Thurston, Jason Taumalolo, Michael Morgan, Coen Hess and exciting speedster Gideon Gela-Mosby plotting their very own path of destruction?

On Sunday Afternoon Football, the Tigers will look to rediscover their roar against a Dragons outfit that has gone marching into the top four after a strong and unexpected start to the season.

A win at ANZ Stadium would ease the pressure on the Tigers who have failed to deliver on the potential of their young stars, while the Dragons have built success through their forwards Paul Vaughan, Jack de Belin and Tyson Frizell, combined with backline dangermen Josh Dugan and Gareth Widdop.

Broadcast Times

Thursday, March 30
Bulldogs vs Broncos

Sydney 7.30pm LIVE on Nine
Brisbane 6.30pm LIVE on 9GEM; from 7.00pm LIVE on Nine 
Melbourne 7.30pm LIVE on 9GEM 
Adelaide 7.00pm LIVE on 9GEM
Perth 4.30pm LIVE on 9GEM

Friday, March 31
Cowboys vs Rabbitohs

Sydney 7.30pm LIVE on Nine
Brisbane 6.30pm LIVE on 9GEM; from 7.00pm LIVE on Nine 
Melbourne 7.30pm LIVE on 9GEM
Adelaide 7.00pm LIVE on 9GEM
Perth 4.30pm LIVE on 9GEM

Sunday, April 2
Tigers vs Dragons

Sydney 3.30pm LIVE on Nine
Brisbane 3.30pm LIVE on Nine 
Melbourne 3.30pm LIVE on 9GEM 
Adelaide 3.00pm LIVE on 9GEM
Perth 1.30pm LIVE on 9GEM

RUGBY LEAGUE ACTION THIS WEEK ON NINE

• SIX TACKLES WITH GUS – Today. Nine’s James Bracey talks the biggest rugby league issues of the week with NRL legend and expert commentator Phil Gould on Six Tackles with Gus. 
This week: Unfair criticism of Des Hasler, the latest at the Tigers, and Keiran Foran

Podcast available for download here: Round 5: Six Tackles with Gus

• THE NRL FOOTY SHOW – Thursday, March 30. Fatty, Erin, Beau and Darryl are back with the footy on Thursday night. George Burgess and Scott Sattler join the panel LIVE. Beau knows Korea, Erin is there when Rugby League Week closes forever, and we launch the new segment Between the Sticks. Available LIVE in every city across the country on 9NOW 

• SPORTS SUNDAY – Sunday, April 2, at 10.30am AEDT, LIVE on Nine. Frank and open debate on all the issues in the week of sport. This week GWS Giants star Steve Johnson, Peter FitzSimons, Richard Freedman and Liz Ellis join Emma Freedman. 

• THE SUNDAY FOOTY SHOW – Sunday, April 2, at 11.30am AEDT, LIVE on Nine. Our experts dissect all the action so far in round four with host James Bracey and panellists Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Paul Gallen.

For further information:
Ryley McKay – Nine Network Publicity – 02 9965 2727
rmckay@nine.com.au

Wednesday, 29 March 2017