Canterbury Bulldogs’ 2025 NRL schedule Analysis
After making it back to the finals for the first time in eight years in 2024, the Canterbury Bulldogs have been given the perfect schedule to run into 2025.
The Gold Coast Titans (Round 2, 9), Parramatta Eels (Round 3, 14), Cronulla Sharks (Round 4, 27), South Sydney Rabbitohs (Round 7, 15), Brisbane Broncos (Round 8, 18), Sydney Roosters (Round 11, 24), Penrith Panthers (Round 17, 26), and St George Illawarra Dragons (Round 1, 20) are the teams scheduled to play twice.
When the numbers were released in November, the Bulldogs were ranked with the 14th hardest draw in the competition.
They only have 10 games against the top eight from the previous season, and although they must play the Panthers and Sharks twice, their other top eight double-up is against the Roosters, who are beset by injuries.
In what might be a wide-open 2025 NRL campaign, they do play some of the more difficult teams from the bottom eight, but it’s definitely not a draw they should be upset about.
Travels
Of all the teams in the league, the Bulldogs have the simplest travel schedule. They will fly just four times in 2025, which is the fewest of any competitors.
Two of those reappear in Rounds 8 and 9 against the Titans in Magic Round ten days later and the Broncos on April 24.
Turnaround periods
Another aspect of the match that the Bulldogs have won is turnaround times. Fourteen of their turnarounds have seven or more days between games, and they don’t have any five-day turnarounds. Their nine six-day turnarounds are over average, but considering how common the six-day turnaround is, it’s hardly a reason for alarm.
Full fixtures
| Round | Opponent | Date | Time (AEDT) | Venue |
| 1 | Dragons | Sat, Mar 8 | 5:30 pm | Netstrata Jubilee Stadium |
| 2 | Titans | Sun, Mar 16 | 6:15 pm | Belmore Sports Ground |
| 3 | Eels | Sun, Mar 23 | 4:05 pm | CommBank Stadium |
| 4 | Sharks | Sat, Mar 29 | 7:35 pm | Sharks Stadium |
| 5 | Knights | Sun, Apr 6 | 6:15 pm | Accor Stadium |
| 6 | Bye | |||
| 7 | Rabbitohs | Fri, Apr 18 | 4:05 pm | Accor Stadium |
| 8 | Broncos | Thu, Apr 24 | 7:50 pm | Suncorp Stadium |
| 9 | Titans | Sun, May 4 | 1:50 pm | Suncorp Stadium |
| 10 | Raiders | Sat, May 10 | 3:00 pm | GIO Stadium |
| 11 | Roosters | Fri, May 16 | 8:00 pm | Accor Stadium |
| 12 | Dolphins | Thu, May 22 | 7:50 pm | Accor Stadium |
| 13 | Bye | |||
| 14 | Eels | Mon, Jun 9 | 4:00 pm | Accor Stadium |
| 15 | Rabbitohs | Sun, Jun 15 | 4:05 pm | Accor Stadium |
| 16 | Bye | |||
| 17 | Panthers | Thu, Jun 26 | 7:50 pm | CommBank Stadium |
| 18 | Broncos | Fri, Jul 4 | 8:00 pm | Accor Stadium |
| 19 | Cowboys | Sat, Jul 12 | 7:35 pm | Queensland Country Bank Stadium |
| 20 | Dragons | Sat, Jul 19 | 5:30 pm | Accor Stadium |
| 21 | Sea Eagles | Sun, Jul 27 | 4:05 pm | TBA |
| 22 | Wests Tigers | Sun, Aug 3 | 2:00 pm | CommBank Stadium |
| 23 | Warriors | Sat, Aug 9 | 7:35 pm | Accor Stadium |
| 24 | Roosters | Fri, Aug 15 | 8:00 pm | Allianz Stadium |
| 25 | Storm | Fri, Aug 22 | 8:00 pm | AAMI Park |
| 26 | Panthers | Thu, Aug 28 | 7:50 pm | Accor Stadium |
| 27 | Sharks | Sat, Sep 6 | 7:35 pm | Accor Stadium |
It will be the Bulldogs’ goal to be three and zero. That much is for sure. They begin in Kogarah against the St George Illawarra Dragons, a team they have recently dominated, then go to Belmore to play the Gold Coast Titans, and finally, they play the Parramatta Eels in a derby at Parramatta.
With the Sharks away and the Panthers at home (Round 7), as well as a matchup with the unpredictable Knights in Round 5 prior to their season-opening bye, things get more difficult from there.
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