Brambani expecting tough Batley test for Eagles

Sheffield halfback Dominic Brambani is in confident mood, ahead of his team’s Championship play-off clash with Batley at Doncaster on Saturday.

The Eagles are going for a third successive Championship trophy success, though their play-off campaign is starting with a qualifying semi-final this time around.

“We have had a really up and down season, we didn’t start off very well at all but then we’ve hit the straps towards the back end of the season and our confidence is high,” said Brambani.

“We’ve won six games on the bounce now and have made it to the play-offs in the last three years, winning the Grand Final in the last two so we know what the play-offs are about and that experience is very important.

“It will be a tough game against Batley, they beat us at our place and we beat them at theirs and I know they had a really good game at the weekend to stay in the top eight. Every game is tough in the play-offs.”

Brambani knows that the Eagles are going to have work hard if they want to ensure their progress past Batley this time around.

Extra spice is added to the occasion by this game being a re-run of last year’s Grand Final, which Sheffield won.

“We have to train hard and make sure we take how we have been performing recently forward into the play-offs,” Brambani added.

“I am really excited for next season, it is going to be a real test for all the players in this league, both old and young and I really believe it will bring out the best in everyone.

“For now though we are fully focused on the play-offs and now that things have really come together on the field, I see no reason why we can’t win that trophy once again.”