You can read that 10 times and come up with a different reading of it.

From a defensive point possibly but Nicholson was always a bit overrated in my oppinion, Bateman defensively was great and got better as the games went on.
I think Holroyd is better than Nicholson and is a machine in defense, and will have see if Russell jumps up a gear over here for us

Very close then, apart from a few good tries Nicholson didn't excel in defense or attack, and wasn't a stand out player. He's good but overrated. Holroyd was superb in defense and full of energy in attack, not as big as Nicholson but not a big loss losing Nicholson with Holroyd stepping up.

I would argue we haven’t lost with Bateman, him only being on loan.
His inclusion displaced Holroyd, who will be coming back matured an hungry to disprove Wire’s decision to drop him for Bateman.
Fitzgibbon fit is a greater presence than Nicholson. We still have Currie too.
And with the academy lads pushing themselves on the fringes, backrow is one area Wire really has no weaknesses.