Why James Batchelor signature would fit the bill for Hull KR in essential long-term strategy

When Sky Sports pundit Jenna Brooks announced that Hull KR had secured the signature of Wakefield's James Batchelor, the news came as a shock to many, with the transfer being virtually unknown at the time.

The news caused an uproar on social media from the Wakefield fans, who were already reeling from Rugby League Live's exclusive that Tom Johnstone would be joining Catalans Dragons and captain Jacob Miller's expected move to rivals Castleford Tigers. Still, it was the news Batchelor would be heading east down the M62, which was the nail in the coffin for the struggling Trinity. We take a look at why the anticipated first signing of the Willie Peters era could be a real coup for the Robins.

The 24-year-old already has 80 Super League caps to his name and has become a fan's favourite at Belle Vue since making his debut in 2016, with the majority of Trinity supporters thoroughly expecting Batchelor to captain the club in the near future. His leadership skills for the West Yorkshire outfit have been lauded by fans and fellow players.

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Batchelor's consistent efficiency with the ball in hand is also a vital aspect of the England Knights star's game. So far in 2022, the utility forward has only made three handling errors during his 12 appearances for Trinity, making 110 carries and gaining 751 metres. His work rate in defence is also a strength the forward has in his locker, Batchelor has only missed 20 tackles in 274 attempts this season, an aspect of the game Rovers have struggled with in recent weeks.

Bachelor's average gain of 6.83m in contact is higher than several current Rovers middles, including Dean Hadley and Matty Storton, who