HUDDERSFIELD Giants chief Paul Anderson is confident Jacob Fairbank and Josh Johnson will make a big impact for Batley Bulldogs in tonight’s home top-of-the-table Kingstone Press Championship clash against Sheffield Eagles (7.30).
The young Super League forwards have both been made available to Batley chief John Kear as part of the clubs’ dual registration deal.
Victory for the third-placed Bulldogs would help them keep the pressure on in-form leaders Sheffield, who are three points clear of tonight’s hosts and two ahead of second-placed Halifax.
With so much at stake, it’s expected to be a high-intensity game, which is why Anderson is so keen for the 23-year-old Fairbank and 19-year-old Johnson to be involved.
“In terms of their development, this is a great game for them to be involved in,” said Anderson.
“Josh has now played a few games for Batley, and we’ve seen a change in him physically during that time.
“Rather than playing for us in the Under 19s, he’s been up against grown men and he’s adapting well to that.
“In the case of Bobby, he needs to be playing at a high level week in, week out. Tonight’s game should be played at a high intensity and it’ll do him a power of good.
“Unfortunately, his loan spell at Bradford Bulls didn’t go as well as we would have liked. He picked up a dead calf in his second game for them, ironically against us at Magic Weekend, and returned to us to undergo treatment soon after.
“Bradford are now getting players back from injury, which means they don’t need him any more, but the dual registration at Batley is still a good option for him.
“Being there won’t do him any harm, because Batley are a good club and John Kear is obviously a good coach.”
