Head
Coach Matt Diskin
Matt Diskin took over as head coach of the Bulldogs at
the beginning of 2017, following in the footsteps of John Kear who had held the
post for 5 years. It is Diskin’s first post as a head coach although he did
take charge briefly of Bradford Bulls in a caretaker capacity in 2014 between
the sacking of Francis Cummins and the appointment of James Lowes.
As a player he was a renowned hooker starting his career
in 2001 with Leeds Rhinos. He stayed with the Rhinos for ten seasons making 264
appearances. In 2011 he moved to Bradford Bulls making 86 appearances before
retiring at the end of 2014. He also played Great Britain, England, England A
and Yorkshire.
Captain: Dominic Brambani
Dominic Brambani is now in his 16th year as a
professional rugby league player. His career started at Castleford in 2004 and
he subsequently signed for Halifax, Sheffield (two spells) and Dewsbury, before
moving to Batley in 2017. That looks like an entire career with Yorkshire clubs
but in 2009 he spent a season playing for Hinterland Storm in Queensland. He is
a goal kicker but has rarely been first choice. However, in 2013 he kicked 168
goals for Sheffield. In 2003 Brambani captained the Great Britain Student team
on a tour of Australia.
At the back
Jonny Campbell, wing, has spent the vast majority of his career at Batley
where he made his début in 2008. In 2016 he signed for Bradford and also played for
Keighley on loan. After two years away he returned to Batley in 2018.
Lewis Galbraith, centre, wing or second row, was a member of the Saint
Helens Academy but didn’t get to play in their first team. In 2014 he made his
professional début with Rochdale on dual reg. He became a Rochdale player in
2016 and then moved to Batley in 2018. In 2011he played for the England Youth
team.
Wayne Reittie, wing, started out with Doncaster in 2008. The following
year he moved to Hunslet in mid-season. He spent 2010 with York and then joined
Batley in 2011. From 2012 to 2014 he was at Halifax and then returned to Batley
in 2015. He is a Jamaica international.
Sam Smeaton, centre, joined Fev in 2009 having previously played at
Featherstone Lions. In 2015 he played for Sheffield and moved to Halifax in
2016. That year he played for York on loan and then transferred to Batley in
June.
Sam Wood, centre or second row, is at Batley on a season-long loan from
Huddersfield. He made his début with Huddersfield in 2016 when he was 18 years
old. In 2017 and 2018 he played for Oldham on dual reg. In 2018 he played for
Workington on dual reg and Halifax on loan.
In the halves
Louis Jouffret, stand off or fullback, joined Whitehaven from the Catalans
Dragons reserve team in May 2015. He returned to the Catalans reserves for the
2016/17 French Elite 1 season and played for Toulouse in 2017 on dual reg. He
signed for Batley in June last year. This season he is Batley’s leading try
scorer and goal kicker. In 2013 he played for the France U18 team.
Daniel Yates, halfback, signed this
year from Rochdale. He was a member of the Saint Helens academy and made his professional
début in 2013 for Rochdale while on
dual reg. He joined Rochdale in 2014 and had been there ever since with a loan
spell at London Skolars in 2014. In 2011
he played in the England Academy team.
At hooker
Reiss Butterwoth has been playing for Batley this year on dual reg from
Huddersfield. He began with Bradford in 2017 (as a halfback). Last year he
played for Batley on loan from Bradford. He was signed by Huddersfield this
year but is yet to play in their first team. As well as playing for Batley he
has also played on dual reg for Workington.
Alistair Leak is usually Batley’s starting hooker. He has only ever played
for the Bulldogs having made his début in 2013.
In the pack
Paul Brearley, second row, loose forward or centre, was signed by Batley this
year from Rochdale Mayfield ARL. His only previous professional appearance was
one game as a substitute with Rochdale Hornets in 2012.
Tyler Dickinson, prop or loose forward, was signed this year from Huddersfield
Giants. He had been a Giants player since his career began in 2013 but he has
had loan spells with Halifax, Keighley, Newcastle, Oldham and Workington. In
2013 and 2014 he played for the England Academy.
Jack Downs, second row or loose forward, joined Batley this year from Hull
FC. He made his début for Hull in 2015 and in 2017 and 2018 he has played games
for Doncaster on dual registration. In 2014 he played for the England Academy.
Adam Gledhill, prop, has spent his whole career at Batley having made his
début in 2014.
Dane Manning, second row or loose forward, began with Leeds in 2009. He
spent 2010 on a season long loan with Fev. He joined Batley in 2011 and moved
to Halifax in 2012. He re-joined Batley in 2017.
Loan and Dual
Registration players
Batley have a dual registration agreement with
Huddersfield Giants. Reiss Butterworth is the only player to have played for
Batley under this agreement.
They have had 5 loan players in 2019. Lewis Bienek (prop or loose forward) is
on a season long loan from Hull FC. Jack
Broadbent (centre or wing) is on loan from Leeds and played for Fev on dual
reg earlier this year. Ollie Russell
(scrumhalf) was on loan from Huddersfield during March and April. Sam Walters
(second row) is on loan from Leeds and Sam Wood is on a season long loan from
Hddersfield.
The
Fev connection
There is a long history of players who have played for both
Batley and Fev.
In the Batley 2019 squad there are six players who have played
for Fev. Tom Hemingway (now retired),
who played at either hooker or halfback, was a Fev player in 2011 although he
only played three games. He is the joint holder of the world record for goals
kicked in a match having kicked 22 out of 22 attempts for Blackpool Panthers in
a 132-0 defeat of Gateshead Thunder in 2010. Dane Manning came to Fev on a season long loan from Leeds in 2010. Unlike
the others, Sam Smeaton was a
regular in the Fev team from 2009 to 2012 before suffering a serious long term
injury. He played 88 times for Fev and scored 41 tries. Scottish international Dave Scott made just one appearance for
Fev in 2013 before joining Doncaster and moved on to Batley in 2016. Finally, Dominic
Brambani (see above under 'Captain'), had a loan spell with Fev in
2005 when he was a Cas player. Jack Broadbent
who is at Batley on loan from Leeds played for Fev on dual reg earlier this
year.
There are four players who have played for Fev this year who
have previously played for Batley. John
Davies was at Batley in 2013 and 2014. Brad
Day was at Batley from 2014 to 2018 and James Harrison was there from 2016 to 2018. Tom
Holmes played eight games for Batley on loan from Cas in 2017.
Fev v Batley: 
