Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles vs. Canterbury Bulldogs: Bulldogs Looking to Establish A Secure Foundation

Nathan Hogan, coach of the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, has picked his squad to face the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in round three of the NSW Cup tournament.

A Sea Eagles team that has been hurt by two big defeats to open the season will be hoping that their first home game against a new-look Bulldogs team that has impressed with their grit and defense so far this year will be the trigger to jump-start their season.

After last year's disastrous 0-4 start, the Sea Eagles would not have expected the early parts of this season to go the same way, especially with star fullback Tom Trbojevic healthy to open the season facing two of the competition's most heavily-fancied teams.

Des Hasler has made a late substitution, with Andrew Davey beginning in the back row. Ethan Bullemor will be relegated to the bench.

The Bulldogs are 1-1 and may have been unlucky not to be 2-0, but they are still a work in progress. If Trent Barrett can assist his present club to inflict additional early-season agony on his previous club, it will go a long way toward establishing a secure foundation for the remainder of their 2022 campaign.

Aaron Schoupp has taken the position of Jayden Okunbor, who left the squad on Saturday. Luke Thompson and Corey Waddell will also swap positions, with the Englishman expected to come off the bench.

The lack of effect from reigning Dally M champion Trbojevic has received a lot of attention, but he hasn't had much of a foundation to build from. Dufty, on the other hand, has looked quite sharp at his new club and already has more busts (9), line breaks (2), and average meters (177) than Turbo. 

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