BATLEY BULLDOGS can once again call on steely second rower Dane Manning as they look towards Sunday’s tough trip to Featherstone, with coach Mark Moxon seeking a return to the resilience which has been a club hallmark.
The teak-tough 36-year-old has had to sit out eight games due to a suspension for punching during the 16-12 home defeat by Bradford in round one of the 1895 Cup.
It ended with the 48-12 home league loss to the Bulls, which left Batley eleventh in the table after picking up just one point from four games (via a 24-24 home draw with Barrow).
Moxon’s men were 24-0 down inside 20 minutes and trailing 32-6 by half-time, and he admitted: “The match was over as a contest too soon. We weren’t competitive for long enough, and that was a disappointment.
“Our success in the past has generally been by getting into the grind, staying in it, making ourselves a nuisance for the opposition and making things happen from there. We need to be far more resilient.”
Moxon hopes Manning’s fellow second rower Lucas Walshaw is nearing a return from a knee injury.
