TOMORROW we return to Mount Pleasant – home of our friends and close neighbours Batley Bulldogs.

Batley are a wonderful example of how to run rugby league professionally, and repeatedly are a credit to themselves and the league.

Our most recent visit was of course the pre-season Yorkshire Cup when we edged home in what was unanimously regarded as a great showcase for Championship rugby league.

In fact, I thought we had the rub of the green that day and the result could easily have gone the other way, with a few try-scoring opportunities not taken.

That match will count for nothing tomorrow as we go for two precious and vital league points. The Championship season is as competitive as everyone predicted before it started with everyone capable of beating each other.

Toulouse out-wrestled us last week in the mud bath, and we only just got past winless Swinton, which gives a further clue as to the competitiveness of this division.

Pride of place last week must have gone to Dewsbury who rightfully should have beaten Toronto after being well in front for most of the match. Dewsbury chairman Mark Sawyer was left scratching his head at the full-time hooter.

Despite that result, Dewsbury have assembled a team that will definitely be competitive and ask questions, especially on their tight home pitch.

That is as may be, but it is our own performances that I and all our supporters are most reflective upon.

Everyone I am sure will share our disappointment last week. Yes there were exceptional factors and yes, the weather conditions didn’t help, but that is the same for both sides.

We have to look to do better than we have in recent weeks. I know the coaching staff and the playing group are working hard to get our season moving forward again.

We accept that some younger players with great potential are still adjusting to the demands of this level. They are a work in progress.

But the loss of forwards and our half backs through injury and suspension was unusual. These aren’t excuses, they are perspective and to help explain how to turn around results on the field.

Everyone involved with the club knows that our fantastic, loyal support base deserve to know that we are moving forward, on and off the field.

I’ve met with the coaching staff at length this week to review performance – of us all – and I know there is a collective determination to get back on track.

It sounds like a cliché, but there really are no easy games at this level and we will all face adversity regularly this season. As Rudyard Kipling so adequately articulated 'if you can meet triumph and disasters and treat those two imposters just the same; you’ll be a man, my son'.

As an owner, ultimately the buck stops with me and I freely give a personal pledge that we will bounce back from the current adversity bigger and stronger than ever.

I’m confident we have the right strategies in place and that, whilst we will continue to strengthen our squad based on injuries, form and the strength of the competition, our absolute focus is on performance. We're focusing on continual improvement.

Elsewhere around the sport I see that Wigan Warriors have had their sanction for breaching the salary cap varied to make it a suspended points deduction.

I have no idea whether it’s fair or not. The merits of the case never get published in full enough detail to facilitate forming a view and you are left simply with the media spin of one party as to their position.

I actually would be very supportive of RFL tribunals being made open to the public – let the full glare of informed media scrutiny provide transparency on some of the murky dealing that go on from time to time around the sport. It will be an end to some of the errant speculative nonsense that gets spouted from people not in the know.

Tomorrow will be a close, tough challenge. We know Batley are still smarting over losing our last encounter at the sloping ground in January.

One thing is for certain, they have lost four games from the first five. We expect them to have a large vocal home crowd and be throwing everything at the Bulls and their ex-coach John Kear.

This will be as tight a game as you would expect in this division. We desperately need the win. They need it just as much.

Please get along to show your support and cheer your Bulls team at the Fox’s Biscuit Stadium as we take on the Yorkshire Cup runners-up.

Check out the Away Guide online or on page 47, as you prepare for your weekend footie fix at Batley. Kick off is tomorrow at 3pm. Tickets are available in the club shop or online at www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/tickets #COYB #BullsNation