But you do know the reason, money! We got outbid it’s that simple. I’m not MC but he has always been clear he will not spend what we don’t have. We can’t have it both ways.

Also we’ve had five seasons from Batch so I think we got our monies worth.

Strange and really new situation for the club to be in. So many quality young lads coming through the club system that it's going to be impossible holding on to them all.

We offered him a 10% increase so all his agent had to do was tout round for 11% I guess.

Certainly is a positive and like you say some will move on. But with Batch he was the finished product and I think we will struggle to replace him with someone as good. Dont know if Pitts is going round again but if he is, to be paying for him and loosing batch is bad business.

Ashurst too, as good a player he has been for us. That two year deal could've been a one year with then balance been used to retain Batchalor, if it was money and not a change of scenery that is the main driver of the move.

PB you've been around the game long enough to know that sometimes a player just wants to go. It may be nothing to do with us. Somebody may have got into his ear and not just his agent, when that happens you can negotiate only so long.

Tere is talent coming through but clearly there will be a time lag, unfortunate but that's how it goes.

Really? The way he's playing at the moment 2 years doesn't look enough.

unless we are going to say move reece Lynn to back row then we are probably having to pay more out for his replacement than what he was offered to get someone as good. We have also ended up with a situation of bringing in players who never play so we have completely wasted money. Evans, devantula, minns, butler, just panic signings in the hope they work. Everyone is struggling to bring forwards through and we get batch and maybe yusif and we let them go, it's a strange one

He's doing well but at the twilight of his career, Batch is about to enter his prime and is pretty versatile. Anyhow it is what it is.

whilst it is great for the club to be bringing players through and I'd love to see the club full of local lads, we have got to look at it and think are we going to give say hall and Murphy the help and guidance needed to kick themselves and our club on to better things. It's all well and good producing players but no good if we're still at the bottom of the league. I suppose it depends if all that matters is survival every season

You see a very good person who we both know has discussed the details with Batch himself. I will not post what he was told because you probably would not accept it. I will just post my opinion and its not be handled at all well by Carter

You my well be right, but I worry we will see a 30 plus aussie on a long contract to replace him.

As for the 5 good years, I want a return on my squad builder investment and to lose him just coming into his prime means some other club will reap that benefit, at least when we were a selling club we got money for these type of players.

For a player who has shown so much passion and determination for the club it seems to me it wouldn't have taken that much more to keep him.

Batch has really come good during the 2nd half of the season and with Ashurst not getting any younger, it would have been nice to see him stay.
His form over the past couple of months has been outstanding and it's massive credit to the lad, playing in a losing side and with a different gig lined up for next season, that he has really put his hand up and given 100%.
Cant knock his effort or loyalty and I wish him well for whatever comes next.
With all respect to KR, this is more of a sideways move than a move to the "big time" but, good luck !

With those who are confirmed to be on their way plus the many many rumours, we look like having a huge rebuilding job in the close season, both on and off the field.

Lets hope we have Hall, Murphy, Kershaw etc signed up

Good luck Batch, our loss is very much Hull KR’s gain.

If i had to make a choice between Mr Carter or Batch I would pick Mr Carter He went for W Poaching as Coach who as proved a lot of fans on here wrong about not been a coach ,to play Hall in second row last night turned out to be blinded ..Let's not for get with the early injury to Whitbread we had two very good 2nd row men out All the best to Batch but we are overloaded whith 2nd row players
We would be in a bigger hole if Mr Carter and the board left