NRL round nine tips: Gould's urgent Bulldogs warning after 'dangerous' rivals axe $1m star
Brought to you by TAB. Nine
Phil Gould has warned his Bulldogs to be wary of a "dangerous" Gold Coast side after the shock axing of $1m forward David Fifita.
Canterbury is stinging from its first loss of the NRL season - a 42-18 thumping at the hands of the Broncos last week.
READ MORE: 'That's what Kane is': Biggest issue with TV star's sheds ban
READ MORE: Astonishing $1.5m call that could send NRL market into frenzy
READ MORE: Great's claim about struggling halves clouded by numbers
The Dogs return to Suncorp Stadium for Magic Round to face a struggling Titans side on Sunday afternoon.
While on paper it would look like a relatively simple Canterbury assignment, the club's footballer manager Gould says it looms as a danger game.
Gold Coast coach Des Hasler made the bold decision to dump out-of-form backrower Fifita to reserve grade this week, but the Bulldogs are missing gun players Matt Burton, Sitili Tupouniua, and Josh Curran to suspension.
Captain Stephen Crichton with his Bulldogs players. Getty
"Very dangerous game, and particularly (being) understrength like that," Gould told Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles with Gus podcast.
"They've got a number of middle forwards missing. Curran and Tupouniua have been in outstanding form, and Matt Burton is so crucial to that team.
"They are going to have to play really well, the Titans are very dangerous, they've got a lot of points in them.
"(The Bulldogs) will need to keep their wits about them, won't they."
Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
While Gould is cautious of a Titans ambush, every one of Nine's expert tipsters backs the Bulldogs to get the chocolates.
A game they are not so sure about is Newcastle against South Sydney on Saturday afternoon - which will be broadcast on Nine.
The tipping panel is split but Gould reckons a Knights "flood" could hit Suncorp Stadium.
They have barely scored a try in the past month but Gould says that is about to change.
"When it turns around it could come with a flood," he said.
"I'm going to tip Newcastle, I just think this will be their day."
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Women's Origin plus Round 9 tips by all Nine's expert tipsters!
NRL tipping leaderboard after round eight. Nine
Andrew Johns: NSW, Sharks, Dolphins, Knights, Cowboys, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
Brad Fittler: NSW, Eels, Dolphins, Knights, Cowboys, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
Ruan Sims: NSW, Sharks, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
Danika Mason: NSW, Eels, Dolphins, Knights, Warriors, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
David Middleton: NSW, Sharks, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Dragons, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
Watch the 2025 Women's State of Origin series live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Darren Lockyer: Queensland, Sharks, Dolphins, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Wests Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
Johnathan Thurston: Maroons, Sharks, Dolphins, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Raiders
Paul Gallen: NSW, Sharks, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Dragons, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
Peter Psaltis: Queensland, Eels, Dolphins, Knights, Cowboys, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
Mat Thompson: Queensland, Sharks, Dolphins, Knights, Warriors, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Raiders
Michael Chammas: NSW, Sharks, Roosters, Rabbitohs, Warriors, Tigers, Bulldogs, Panthers, Storm
The Mole: Queensland, Sharks, Dolphins, Knights, Cowboys, Dragons, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
Ben Glover: Queensland, Sharks, Dolphins, Rabbitohs, Warriors, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos, Storm
