Harrison wants Grand Final appearance

Batley Bulldogs coach Karl Harrison believes his side are now starting to make the pundits eat their words.

Batley racked up their eighth win of the Co-operative Championship campaign when they won 34-12 at Hunslet last week.

They are only one point adrift of second-placed Featherstone, and Harrison insists the Bulldogs’ Grand Final ambitions are genuine.

He said: “We set our stall out at the start of the season and people laughed at our ambitions, but we’ve got a tough bunch of blokes who are dedicated to the cause.”

Harrison has been further boosted by the news that George Flanagan could return on Sunday following a recent knee injury, but Daley Williams (shoulder) faces three months on the sidelines.

Former Crusaders star Anthony Blackwood is set to return to the Barrow Raiders squad after recently agreeing a switch from French side Limoux.

Raiders forward Ned Catic remains suspended and James Nixon is still recovering from a broken leg.

Barrow coach Nigel Wright will be hoping for improvement on last week’s 30-18 win over Toulouse, although he admitted there were aspects that particularly pleased him.

Wright said: “Overall I would give that performance seven out of ten.”