BATLEY Bulldogs will go into Northern Rail Cup semi-final action at Leigh tonight (7.30) without the services of young Giants duo Josh Johnson and Jacob Fairbank.
Both forwards were in dual-registation action for the Bulldogs in their narrow 14-8 top-of-the-table defeat to leaders Sheffield Eagles at Mount Pleasant a week ago.
But with Fairbank having joined Super League club London Broncos on a month’s loan and Johnson having not played in the Northern Rail Cup before now, they won’t play in tonight’s eagerly-awaited fixture.
But fellow Super League on-loan forward, Castleford’s Dan Fleming, has featured in the competition before and will feature in a Batley side boosted by the return of Johnny Campbell, Keegan Hirst and Alex Bretherton, who all missed the Eagles clash.
“It’s a very big game in and amongst a very big period for us,” said Bulldogs boss John Kear. “If you’re going to get to a final and win a competition, nobody is going to give it to you – you have to play good teams along the way.”
Queensland levelled the State of Origin series with a 26-6 victory over New South Wales in front of 51,690 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
Tries for the hosts were scored by Sam Thaiday, Darius Boyd (2) and Greg Inglis, with Jonathan Thurston adding five goals. Brett Morris replied for NSW.
