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Hull FC forward Joe Batchelor makes 'best' form admission and opens up on future

The Hull FC back rower on his form, role, and future.

[Hull FC forward Joe Batchelor celebrates scoring the first try with Zak Hardaker. ]

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Hull FC forward Joe Batchelor celebrates scoring the first try with Zak Hardaker. (Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)

Hull FC haven't had the year they anticipated at the start of the season but that's not to say it hasn't had its positives, and one of those positives has been Joe Batchelor.

The back row forward has arguably been Hull's best signing this year and has certainly been their best player over the last three months since returning to the side.

After battling his way through two frustrating injury niggles at the start of the year, Batchelor has played the last 14 games for Hull and has got stronger and stronger by the week.

The 31-year-old looks at home on FC's right edge and is building combinations that have seen him cross over for seven tries this season. But it's his leadership, his grit, and his effort-based actions that have stood tallest this year, with Batchelor, brought to the club to help raise professionalism, standards, and more, stating that it's his best spell of the last two years and arguably one of the best of his career too.

"Yeah, I think it definitely is," the forward said when asked as much by Hull Live. "I think the two years before this year, I've sort of been inconsistent and injured and up and down with my performances, but putting a run of games together is what I'm best at and getting some combinations with a person next to me. So, yeah, I'm really happy with it.

"I've been itching for a couple of years now just to get a good consistent run of games and now I've managed to put that together. Lasty's given me a pretty basic role, which suits my game down to the ground and those are all the effort areas.

"I've just really concentrating on nailing them and being a reliable teammate with a run of games and consistency. I've hit some good form that I haven't been in for the last couple of years."

On that leadership role, with Batchelor being a notable vocal part of the team, the player continued: "I've enjoyed it. There's obviously quite a young group of players in our squad and that leaves a bit of a gap for leadership, but I've enjoyed it.

"There are some real good pros in our team, too, that have experienced great things. So working alongside them, like Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Aidan Sezer, and John Asiata obviously I played with Belzy (James Bell) before there's a real good core here, and it's not just me leading.

"I've just been part of that and all been on the same page but helping the young lads move forward is something I'm really enjoying."

Into the first year of a three-year deal, there's still plenty more to come from the Wakefield-born star, who is targeting natural progress in the Hull team next term ahead of what promises to be some exciting changes in terms of both staff and playing personnel.

"This year was about finding my feet and earning the respect of everyone at the club," Batchelor said. "Hopefully, I've done that to a degree and then next year we can worry about kicking on, but yeah, I'm going to worry about the games to the end of the season first and make sure I keep putting my best foot forward.

"I just want to evolve as the team evolves, sort of thing. Now I've got a good understanding of my teammates and the environment and the supporters and what's expected here; hopefully I can be all the better for it next year.

"What that exactly looks like, I don't know, because there's probably going to be a bit of change again next season, but as long as I can grow along with the club, I'll be really happy.

"That change is exciting, and it probably keeps you on your toes a bit. It's something new, and there are new people to impress again. I'm going to have to earn the respect of new teammates, new coaching staff, and everything next season. So they'll keep me on my toes, and it'll be real good for the club, I'm sure."

At home in Hull, Batchelor is determined to make sure his stay at the Black and Whites is fruitful, with the club looking to kick on under Steve McNamara and co next term.

"I knew that Hull was a big club when I signed here," the back rower added. "I knew what the city was like. Obviously, my brother had given me a bit of an insight from the other side of it, but he told me in and around town, everyone cares about rugby league, even if they pretend they don't, and they've got a side.

"It's been all of those things and it's been exactly what I probably needed in my career. We just talked about a bit of change then, and it probably refreshed me right up having to move across here. I'm grateful to Hull for giving me the opportunity."

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