Featherstone Rovers select Leeds Rhinos youngsters for Batley Bulldogs test - but Dewsbury Rams make losing start

Winger Luke Briscoe and stand-off Callum McLelland have been named in Leeds’ initial squad to face Hull and also Rovers’ 21-man group for their trip to Batley Bulldogs (3pm).

The pair are more likely to feature in Rovers’ Betfred Championship opener, nine days after playing against them for Leeds in a pre-season fixture.

Also included in Rovers’ 21 is Leeds second-rower Jarrod O’Connor, who scored a try for Featherstone in their narrow defeat at Hull KR two weeks ago before impressing against them for Leeds.

The visitors could give a debut to signings Craig Hall, Ben Blackmore, ex-Batley half-back Louis Jouffret, Dean Parata, Brett Ferres, Alec Susino, Jake Sweeting, Greg Worthington and Gareth Gale.

Former Grand Final winner Shaun Lunt is poised to make his Championship debut for Batley and fellow recruits Shaun Pick, Lucas Walshaw, Ben White, Luke Hooley, Jack Blagbrough, Dale Morton and Anthony Bowman have also been named in Bulldogs’ initial 21.

Both coaches will be in charge for the first time.

Rovers’ James Webster took over from Ryan Carr at the end of last season and Craig Lingard, the club’s record try-scorer, has replaced Matt Diskin at Batley.

21-man squads:

Batley Bulldogs - Flynn, Pick, Senior, Scott, Reittie, Tomlinson, Galbraith, White, Yates, Leak, Everett, Manning, Walshaw, Brown, Hooley, Blagbrough, Ward, Bravo, Morton, Lunt, Bowman.

Featherstone Rovers - Hall, Blackmore, Hardcastle, Carey, Jouffret, Chisholm, Ferguson, Parata, Harrison, Ferres, Lockwood, Cooper, Bussey, Susino, Sweeting, Worthington, Gale, Albert, McLellend, Briscoe, O’Connor.

Meanwhile, Dewsbury Rams were beaten 36-10 at home by Leigh Centurions in the opening game of the Championship season. Adam Ryder touched down and Paul Sykes kicked three goals as Rams trailed only 12-10 at the breeak, but Leigh took control in the second half.