Batley v Hunslet ARLFC: James Ford ‘excited’ for first Bulldogs game in Challenge Cup

Ford’s debut as head coach was delayed by a week as the 2026 Championship season got underway without the Bulldogs after prospective Round One opponents, and Ford’s former club, Featherstone Rovers were not granted membership by the RLF to take part in this year’s campaign.

His first assignment is now against the South Leeds-based National Premier League outfit this weekend, with the winners set to host Super League giants Catalans Dragons in the third round next month.

Ford told the Reporter Series: “I am excited to take charge of my first competitive game and see what the players deliver. I have been impressed with them buying into things in training and how hard they have worked and how cohesive they have looked.

“But the proof of the pudding is always in competitive games. I will learn a lot about them and I’m sure a lot of that will be positive stuff.

“Hunslet will be a tough game. Me and Paul (Couch, assistant) went to watch them against York Acorn and they were comfortable winners in the end. They have got some individuals that we need to be aware of, and their two halves also asked a lot of questions of York Acorn.

“We feel that we will be really tested and we will have to play really well to progress.”

Asked about how his coaching style and how he wants his Batley side to shape up in 2026, Ford replied:

“It’s about creating clarity as to what people’s roles are and what the expectations are. It’s about rewarding people for putting the team first and highlighting it when they don’t.

“Eventually we want to build towards a team that bases its game on effort and physicality and everyone knowing their roles and responsibilities. We want to be strong defensively so that we can play as high up with the ball, and if we do make an error here or there, we can defend it.

“I think we have made progress over pre-season but we are all aware as a group that we have still got a lot more to go at to get to where we need to get to.”

And he wants to make the most out of the infamous Mount Pleasant slope.

“We have got to use it (the slope) to our advantage the best we can,” he said. “We want to make it a difficult place for teams to come. But I am hopeful, as a group, we can win games on our pitch and away from home as well.

“What is more important is that the people from in and around the Heavy Woollen area come to the games and get behind the players, not only this week, but all season.”

He added: “We feel we have got some exciting young players that have plenty of improvement in them and it would be great for our supporters to get down and cheer them on as they progress.”

Children can enter the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium for free for this Sunday’s game, while adult tickets are priced at £10.