Bulldogs vs Storm Prediction: Canterbury woes to continue against surging Storm

| Thursday 21st May 2026, 10:14

Thursday 21st May 2026, 10:14

Two big-name strugglers take centre stage in Round 12 of the NRL Premiership when the Canterbury Bulldogs meet the Melbourne Storm at Accor Stadium (20:00 local, 11:00 BST, Watch NRL).

Melbourne have won back-to-back games since ending a seven-match losing run, while the Dogs have lost five straight and are now in the bottom four of the standings. My Bulldogs vs Storm predictions are below, with the latest team news and Betfred’s match odds.

Bulldogs vs Storm Betting Tips

Handicap 2-way Alternative 1: Storm – 3.5 @ 13/8
Will Warbrick Anytime Tryscorer @ 4/5

*odds correct at time of publishing

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Bulldogs vs Storm Odds

Despite their run of form, which stretches to seven losses in eight, the Bulldogs are favoured for the win by the bookies at 4/6. Betfred is offering 13/10 about a Storm victory, with the draw a 16/1 shot.

Team News

Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo names Jacob Kiraz on the wing as he returns from a knee injury after a month out. The Dogs are without Origin call-up Stephen Crichton, so Enari Tuala moves to centre.

Marcelo Montoya is back in the squad but is only listed among the substitutes initially.

Rugby League Odds

The Storm have Harry Grant, Cam Munster and Trent Loiero all away on Origin duty, so in come Trent Toelau and Keagan Russell-Smith, while Cooper Cooke is promoted from the bench.

Alec MacDonald returns from a hamstring issue, and Gabriel Satrick is set to make his NRL debut off the bench.

Handicap 2-way Alternative 1: Storm – 3.5 @ 13/8

The obvious reason for the Dogs’ favouritism is the quality of players Storm have missing due to Origin Game 1.

With no Munster and Grant in particular, Melbourne are without much of their heart, but their renaissance in recent weeks has come from far more than those two alone.

And the Bulldogs, on the other hand, are a bin fire at the moment. Their five consecutive losses have come without them getting particularly close to picking up a win, with defeats at margins of 18, 20, 16, 32 and 22.

To that end, I can’t see them overturning a rejuvenated Storm, who have been a different animal since the news of coach Craig Bellamy's neurodegenerative disorder. What’s more, I like the look of increasing the value by backing Melbourne to overcoming a 3.5-point handicap at 13/8 and an implied 38.1% probability.

Bulldogs vs Storm - Handicap 2-Way Alt 1

Storm -3.5

13/8

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

Will Warbrick Anytime Tryscorer @ 4/5

The Storm remain star-studded despite their Origin absentees, with 12-try Sua Fa’alogo, Jahrome Hughes and Nick Meaney among those who could cause the Bulldogs some problems.

Will Warbrick, meanwhile, has nine tries to his name so far this season, and he has value to his name on the Anytime Tryscorer list at 4/5. So that’s who I’m backing to get over the line in another Storm win.

Bulldogs vs Storm - Anytime Tryscorer

Will Warbrick

4/5

Bet Here

Odds correct at time of publishing.

You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.