James Batchelor likely to have played final game of 2022

Josh McAllister 17 Aug 2022 3:32 PM

Picture by Matt West/SWpix.com - 14/08/2022 - Rugby League - Betfred Super League Round 23 - Wakefield Trinity v Wigan Warriors - Be Well Support Stadium, Wakefield, England - James Batchelor of Wakefield Trinity on crutches at the end of the game

Wakefield Trinity boss Willie Poching has confirmed that forward James Batchelor has likely played his final game of 2022 due to injury.

The 24-year-old left the field during the club’s win over Wigan on crutches. Wakefield took a huge step towards their Super League survival with a 30-12 victory over the Warriors at the Be Well Stadium on Sunday.

The England Knights international has been reported to be joining Hull KR for the 2023 campaign. It means he could have likely played his final game for Wakefield.

“It’s a tough one,” Poching told BBC West Yorkshire.

“It’s his hamstring. It is quite bad.

“With the situation we’re in with three weeks to go in the season, I’m not too sure if he’ll get another game or not.

“He may have played his last game.”

🗣 ‘He may have played his last game.'

🏉 Wakefield Trinity coach Willie Poching reveals possible season-ending injury for forward James Batchelor.

Full interview
🎧 https://t.co/K1K13MxXQl pic.twitter.com/qSLJWfHpTk

— BBC Sport West Yorkshire (@BBCWYS) August 17, 2022

Meanwhile, the club will travel to the MKM Stadium without Jamie Shaul, who is unavailable to play against his parent club. However, full-back Max Jowitt has been included.

Hull make four changes

Hull FC head coach Brett Hodgson has made four changes to his squad that went down 60-6 at home to St Helens last Sunday.

Jake Connor and Kane Evans will serve their respective one-match suspensions. Darnell McIntosh and Jack Walker drop out through injuries sustained in Sunday’s defeat.

Ligi Sao returns from suspension. Back-rower Manu Ma’u is named for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury earlier in the summer.

Academy youngster Kye Armstrong has earned his first ever call-up into the first-team squad. Lewis Martin has also been named.

Hull: Gale, Sao, Houghton, Satae, Ma’u, Lane, Lovodua, Fash, McNamara, Johnstone, Wynne, Vulikijapani, Taylor, Barron, Balmforth, Litten, Laidlaw, Longstaff, Martin, Smith, Armstrong.

Wakefield: Jowitt, Miller, Lino, Battye, Hood, Arona, Ashurst, Crowther, Whitbread, Gaskell, Kershaw, Croft, Walker, Aydin, Bowes, Murphy, Hall, Butler, Fifita, Evans, Bowden.

PODCAST: Liam Marshall on almost giving up on rugby league, England hopes & Peet’s Wigan transformation