Championship Preview: Batley are the underdogs
Batley Bulldogs could be a surprise package in the Betfred Championship this season.
Matt Diskin’s side finished in sixth place after the regular campaign in 2017 and had a solid season last term.
They have recruited well this year, bringing in Bradford Bulls duo Jonny Campbell and Keenan Tomlinson while they have taken advantage of Rochdale Hornets’ financial troubles and have signed Lewis Galbraith.
Izaac Farrell is a very good loan signing from Huddersfield Giants though. The young half-back has got a lot of potential to become a regular Super League player in years to come. A good goal-kicker, too.
They have lost a fine player in Cain Southernwood, though.
Batley play some fine rugby under Diskin and they can cause a couple of upsets this year against some of the big teams in Leigh Centurions, Toronto Wolfpack, Featherstone Rovers and London Broncos this year.
The Bulldogs certainly didn’t get enough credit as they should have in 2017, but they have an even better squad this year than last.
We are expecting another solid year from them in 2018.
Head Coach: Matt Diskin
Assistant Coaches: Mark Moxon & Danny Maun
Captain: Pat Walker & Dom Brambani
Key Man: Dom Brambani
One to Watch: David Scott
Ins: Michael Ward (Oldham), Jonny Campbell (Bradford Bulls), Tom Holland (Whitehaven). Izaac Farrell (Huddersfield Giants), Tom Hemingway (Dewsbury Rams), Keenan Tomlinson (Bradford Bulls), Lewis Galbraith (Rochdale Hornets).
Outs: Cain Southernwood (Hunslet)
Squad: 1 David Scott, 2 Wayne Reittie, 2 Sam Smeaton, 4 Jason Crookes, 5 Shaun Ainscough, 6 Pat Walker, 7 Dom Brambani, 8 Adam Gledhill, 9 Alistair Leek, 10 Tom Lillycrop, 11 Dave Manning, 12 Joel Farrell, 13 Brad Day, 14 James Davey, 15 James Harrison, 16 Michael Ward, 17 Joe Chandler, 18 Tom Hemingway, 19 Alex Bretherton, 20 Alex Rowe, 21 James Brown, 22 Danny Cowling, 23 Jonny Campbell, 24 Tom Holland, 25 Izaac Farrell, 26 Danny Bravo, 27 Danny Sowerby, 28 Keenan Tomlinson, 29 Lewis Galbraith.
Prediction: 8th