Batley Bulldogs: Good start and we could make the top five says Louis Jouffret

Bulldogs won their final six games of 2018 to finish seventh after the Super-8s.

Jouffret’s arrival from Catalans Dragons’ reserve team in July was instrumental in that impressive run and he will wear the number six jersey this season when the top-five will go into the new-look play-offs.

“I played all of the Super-8s with Batley and really enjoyed it,” Jouffret said of his first spell with Batley. I liked the team and I liked the way we played and I am really looking forward to this year now.

“I think we want to be in the play-offs and we’ve shown in the Yorkshire Cup we can be really, really good.”

Bulldogs reached the final of the pre-season tournament before being pipped 14-12 by full-timers Bradford Bulls.

Jouffret believes Bulldogs’ strong showing proved they will be a force to be reckoned with this term.

“We have got a good squad,” he added.

“Last year we had some injuries, but this year we look really strong. We’ve had a good season and I think we are going to be ready.

“There’s a lot of good teams and it is going to be tough every week.

“We need to start well.”

Bulldogs begin their Championship campaign at home to Barrow Raiders on Sunday.