The back-rower won’t play again this season
Hull FC forward Joe Batchelor.
Joe Batchelor has been an example of professionalism and consistency to every Hull FC player this season.
That’s according to interim boss Andy Last, who won’t have Batchelor at his disposal this weekend as the Black and Whites bring an end to what has been a dismal Super League season.
Batchelor missed Friday night’s loss at Toulouse Olympique as he served the first of a two-match suspension and he will complete that ban this week as Hull end their season at Headingley against Leeds Rhinos.
As such, FC fans won’t see Batchelor again until the start of next season.
Last admits the former St Helens man probably needed the extended break given he had been carrying rib and calf issues, but the hope is that he can return fitter and stronger than ever for the start of a new chapter under Steve McNamara.
“Yeah it is a sad way for Batch’s season to finish but his body was a little bit busted and broken, he was nursing some ribs, nursing a calf,” Last said on the back-rower. “Most players are at this time of year.
“Batch is the ultimate professional, he’s been a real leader for us and a real good pro. His level of performance has been outstanding on a weekly basis.
“He’s shown the level of consistency that we need more players stepping up and delivering on a week to week basis. I’m sure Batch is looking forward to a bit of a break, a rest and a reset and then he can attack pre-season and drive standards for one or two others to follow.”
Batchelor arrived at the club over the off-season after agreeing to leave St Helens, where he had been since 2019. During that time, the back-rower played in and won two Grand Finals and a Challenge Cup, while he was also part of the group that won a World Club Challenge and two more Grand Finals to complete four in a row.
As such, he knows what a winning environment looks like and he has the ability to make a real impact on those around him.
“I hope so,” Last added when asked if Batchelor’s work ethic and mindset has rubbed off on others. “That’s one of the big things.
“I mentioned it back when we were talking about the 2016 team, the influence of senior players on junior members of your squad. They’ve got to make sure they see it.
“I think for me, watching Batch go about his daily business and how diligent he is in his preparation to make sure his body is right, he gets in early, he’s doing his prep work and he’s happy to give his time up to the younger lads and point them in the right direction whether it be in the gym, whether it be recovery or rehab or diet, little tips on the game. He stays out and does extras with them.
“I just hope those young guys see the qualities that Joe has brought to our club. They then pass that knowledge on and they learn from that seniority and watching Batch go about his business.
“You can throw in James Bell, working with the likes of Matty Lees and Jonny Lomax and Morgan Knowles, there is no surprise St Helens were the dominant team because they had a coach in Kristian Woolf who drove high standards but the players grabbed it. I can imagine them driving high standards with their playing group and Batch was obviously significant in that team’s success.”