NRL live updates: Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs - blog, scores and stats

Former State of Origin great Billy Moore has said a potential Western Australia NRL team, linked with the North Sydney Bears, would be a "juggernaut club".

Tonight, the undefeated Canterbury Bulldogs are on top of the NRL, but face a Brisbane team desperate to snap a two-game losing streak and prove their credentials in 2025.

Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.

Key Events The Broncos and Bulldogs walk onto the ground, for this Anzac Day eve match Rain in Brisbane leaves Lang Park surface wet 10 minutes ago Selwyn Cobbo is at fullback. History says Brisbane will win 13-12 1 hours ago Show all key events The Broncos and Bulldogs walk onto the ground, for this Anzac Day eve match M By Michael Doyle This is the Anzca Day round — one of the most important each year. An Anzac ceremony is underway in the middle of the ground.

Members of the Australian Defence Force join the players, with the flags of Australia, New Zealand, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag, at half-mast. Captains Adam Reynolds and Stephen Crichton now lay wreaths. Rain in Brisbane leaves Lang Park surface wet M By Michael Doyle There has been rain around Brisbane today, including light drizzle an hour before kick-off. Players will need to be mindful of a slippery ball tonight. Points may be at a premium. When will Reece Walsh return? M By Michael Doyle Hi Everyone shall be interesting to seeing selwyn cobbo playing fullback do we know when Reese Walsh is back - Bailey Hello Bailey. The Broncos have said they expect Reece Walsh to be out for 4-6 weeks. Brisbane fans wanting something to cheer about M By Michael Doyle Good to join you again Michael. Hoping the Broncos bounce back tonight with a solid display. - KB G'day KB. Thanks for joining me on the ABC Sport live blog. I really want to see Brisbane play well for 80 minutes. It is hard to say they have had a complete performance yet this year, including the big win in round one. Queensland Women's State of Origin squad M By Michael Doyle The Queensland Maraoons announced their squad for the Women's State of Origin last week. If you missed the announcement, here is the Maroons squad: Tarryn Aiken — Sydney Roosters

Tarryn Aiken — Sydney Roosters Ali Brigginshaw — Brisbane Broncos

Ali Brigginshaw — Brisbane Broncos Destiny Brill — Brisbane Broncos

Destiny Brill — Brisbane Broncos Lauren Brown — Gold Coast Titans

Lauren Brown — Gold Coast Titans Shenae Ciesiolka — Brisbane Broncos

Shenae Ciesiolka — Brisbane Broncos Jessika Elliston — Gold Coast Titans

Jessika Elliston — Gold Coast Titans Jada Ferguson — Brisbane Broncos

Jada Ferguson — Brisbane Broncos Georgia Hannaway — Cronulla Sharks

Georgia Hannaway — Cronulla Sharks Sophie Holyman — Canberra Raiders

Sophie Holyman — Canberra Raiders Keilee Joseph — Brisbane Broncos

Keilee Joseph — Brisbane Broncos Chelsea Lenarduzzi — Brisbane Broncos

Chelsea Lenarduzzi — Brisbane Broncos Sienna Lofipo — Gold Coast Titans

Sienna Lofipo — Gold Coast Titans Hayley Maddick — Brisbane Broncos

Hayley Maddick — Brisbane Broncos Rory Owen — Parramatta Eels

Rory Owen — Parramatta Eels Tavarna Papalii — Sydney Roosters

Tavarna Papalii — Sydney Roosters Jasmine Peters — North Queensland Cowboys

Jasmine Peters — North Queensland Cowboys Julia Robinson — Brisbane Broncos

Julia Robinson — Brisbane Broncos Romy Teitzel — Brisbane Broncos

Romy Teitzel — Brisbane Broncos Tamika Upton — Brisbane Broncos

Tamika Upton — Brisbane Broncos Mackenzie Weale — North Queensland Cowboys ICYMI: NSW Blues announce Women's State of Origin Game I team M By Michael Doyle The NSW Blues squad for the opening match of the Women's State of Origin was announced yesterday. The team will be captain by Sydney Roosters star Isabelle Kelly Click the link below for the full squad. New faces join old guard in NSW squad ahead of State of Origin opener Toafofoa Sipley banned for four weeks for a hip-drop tackle that broke Mat Feagai's leg M By Michael Doyle Manly prop Toafofoa Sipley will miss more than a month of football after copping a four-game suspension for a hip-drop tackle on Mat Feagai. Feagai needed surgery on a broken leg and an ankle injury from the tackle, with the NRL judiciary panel keen to "send a clear message" about the risks of the tackle. Sipley will miss games against the Panthers, Sharks, Cowboys and Eels. He will be available in round 13 against the Broncos. Manly prop banned for four games to 'send a clear message' on hip drops Can the Bulldogs make it 7-in-a-row? M By Michael Doyle Hello Mick - happy Thursday! Surely the Bulldogs won't go 7 straight, will they? I've tipped Broncos to get back on track after their last couple of disappointing outcomes. - Mike G'day Mike. The Bulldogs certainly have a good enough team to make it seven straight. The Broncos have been inconsistent, especially in the last fortnight. And with Reece Walsh out, Selwyn Cobbo at fullback means the team's chemistry will be learning on the go. But the Brisbane Broncos, when it all comes together, are a force of nature who can score a lot of points in a short amount of time. Teams lists confirmed for Broncos and Bulldogs M By Michael Doyle The teams lists have been finalised for tonight's round eight match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Canterbury Bulldogs. (NRL) Selwyn Cobbo is at fullback. History says Brisbane will win 13-12 M By Michael Doyle It is a new-look spine for the Brisbane Broncos.

Selwyn Cobbo moves from the wing to play fullback this week to cover for injured star Reece Walsh. Cobbo has started at fullback twice in his NRL career. How did the Broncos go? In round one of 2023, the Broncos defeated the Panthers in Penrith, and Brisbane defeated Manly at Lang Park last year. On both occasions, the Broncos won 13-12. Walsh in doubt for Origin I after suffering knee injury in Broncos' loss Bulldogs enjoying a historically brilliant start to the season M By Michael Doyle The Canterbury Bulldogs are on top of the NRL ladder through seven rounds, with a perfect record of six wins and no losses. Last week's Good Friday victory over Souths was their best performance of the season to date — outplaying the Rabbitohs for a 32-0 win. It is the first time since 1938 that the Bulldogs have won their first six games of a season. That year, they won the premiership. Last week's clean sheet is also the first time in club history they have kept their opposition to nil in consecutive weeks, after triumphing over Newcastle 20-0 the week prior. Tonight's match is arguably the toughest test yet, despite the Broncos coming off back-to-back defeats. How a coffee cart is driving Bulldogs' unbeaten start to NRL season Rabbitohs suffer injury blow to Cody Walker M By Michael Doyle The South Sydney Rabbitohs expect to be without one of their main attacking weapons for more than a month. The club announced this afternoon that five-eighth Cody Walker had suffered a calf tear at training this week, and "and is expected to be sidelined for approximately five weeks". (AAP) Full fixture list for Round 8 of the NRL M By Michael Doyle All times in AEST Thursday, April 24 7:50pm — Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs, Lang Park, Brisbane Friday, April 25 4pm — Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

— Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 6:05pm — New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights, Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch (NZ).

— New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights, Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch (NZ). 8:10pm — Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, AAMI Park, Melbourne Saturday, April 26 5:30pm — North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans, Townsville Stadium, Townsville

— North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans, Townsville Stadium, Townsville 7:35pm — Penrith Panthers vs Manly Sea Eagles, Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney Sunday, April 27 2pm — Canberra Raiders vs Dolphins, Canberra Stadium, Canberra

— Canberra Raiders vs Dolphins, Canberra Stadium, Canberra 4:05pm — West Tigers vs Cronulla Sharks, Leichhardt Oval, Sydney A WA-based Bears would be a 'juggernaut club' M By Michael Doyle Could the Bears' name finally be back in the NRL? It is reportedly getting closer. (Getty Images) Media reports, initially by the Sydney Morning Herald, have said there is an in-principle agreement between the Australian Rugby League Commission and the Western Australia government for a Perth-based team to be launched. That Perth team would be linked with the North Sydney Bears, who have not featured in the NRL since 1999. No official deal has been announced at this stage. North Sydney Bears legend, currently board member, and ABC Sport caller Billy Moore told the ABC Sport Daily Podcast that he believed a Perth-based Bears team would be a "juggernaut" in the league. "I think all parties realise this is a great opportunity for all involved in rugby league," Moore said on the podcast. "To have a team based in WA, with the heritage and history of the North Sydney Bears … combine to form what I think will be a juggernaut club in the NRL very quickly." Moore pointed to the success of the AFL in keeping historical teams alive in new locations. Last year's AFL grand final pitted the Brisbane Lions, a combination of the old Fitzroy Lions and Brisbane Bears, and the Sydney Swans, who were once South Melbourne. "That is what the inception of this WA team will do," Moore said. It will marry up the North Sydney Bears' history, with a very powerful growth opportunity in Western Australia, where they love their sport." Billy Moore: 'This is the greatest day that's happened to the Bears since 1922' - ABC listen Welcome to the ABC Sport NRL live blog M By Michael Doyle Good evening, footy fan. Welcome back to ABC Sport's live digital coverage of the NRL. Round eight of the season begins tonight at Lang Park with a mouthwatering clash between the Brisbane Broncos and Canterbury Bulldogs. The Broncos are coming off back-to-back losses, while the Bulldogs are undefeated through six matches this season. This game has the potential to be a belter. You can join the conversation and be part of the blog. Let us know your thoughts on all things footy in the comment section.

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