James Batchelor hopes to follow in brother Joe's footsteps and win Challenge Cup
While major silverware still eludes the 27-year-old Rovers second rower, older brother Joe won the prestigious trophy with St Helens in 2021 and also has two Grand Final triumphs to his name.
James credits his riotous introduction to rugby league to the impact of his brother – his senior by three years – and is determined to emulate him when the Robins get another chance to end their 40-year trophyless streak against Warrington.
Batchelor told the PA news agency: 'I definitely want what my brother's got. He's already got one and I want one to match it, and although there's always been a rivalry between us I'm sure he wants me to get one because he knows how much it means to me.'
Batchelor admits the sibling rivalry between the pair was not always so healthy when they were growing up in West Yorkshire, with the younger brother eager to prove himself in games against much bigger and more physical friends.
'It could get pretty fierce at times,' recalled Batchelor.
'We were at each other 24-7, kicking lumps out of each other in the garden, and we drove our mum up the wall.
'But it definitely drove us both on, and I got used to playing with him and his mates who were a lot older than me. When they're all going through growth spurts and I'm not growing, it definitely toughens you up because you have to get on with it and you get no sympathy at that age.'
Since joining Rovers in 2023, Batchelor has been integral to the club's rise to the top of the Super League table, but was also part of the setbacks of losing the 2023 Challenge Cup final in heartbreaking fashion to Leigh, and last year's Grand Final against Wigan at Old Trafford.
Batchelor believes those tough losses have equipped his club to kick on and put an end to a much-publicised streak without silverware, which stretches back to Rovers' 1985 title win in what was then the Slalom Lager League.
'There's a lot of factors that add up, including the excitement of being back at Wembley for the second time in three years, but also having that motivation to get rid of the hurt of those two losses and go one better this time,' he added.
'We said after the 2023 final that we could either fade away or learn from it and kick on, and that's what we did. Every setback we've had at this club in recent years, we've been able to work on it and come back stronger.
'The 40-year thing is also a big deal, the taunting our supporters get about it, many of whom have been with us a long time and have been through it.
'All these things fuel the fire towards Saturday, and we definitely want to go out and win the trophy for our fans.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
a minute ago
- Scottish Sun
Ravel Morrison targets English football comeback as he joins new PFA transfer list with ex-Man Utd and Chelsea stars
Scroll down to see the PFA list in full BACK FOR MORR Ravel Morrison targets English football comeback as he joins new PFA transfer list with ex-Man Utd and Chelsea stars Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RAVEL MORRISON has joined up with the PFA's pre-season training squad. The initiative has been running all summer for footballers that find themselves without a club. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Ravel Morrison has become a regular for Jamaica in recent years Credit: Getty By joining up with the PFA pre-season squad, Morrison appears to be targeting a return to English football. The former Manchester United wonderkid last played on these shores for Derby County during the 2021-22 season. Morrison has since turned out for DC United in MLS and UAE side Precision. The midfielder was also in action for Jamaica back in June, bossed by ex-England manager Steve McClaren. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Get in son Chelsea set for huge windfall as Inter line up ex-star who only played twice While he has also featured in the Baller League at London's Copper Box Arena. Earlier this summer, Morrison pleaded with bosses of English sides to ignore his wild reputation and give him a chance. The former England youth international told The Athletic: "I do believe I can play in the Championship — easy. The frustrating thing is I'm not getting the opportunity. 'My agent has spoken to a lot of sporting directors, chief scouts and heads of recruitment, and we've got really close to an agreement. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'Then they get the manager's opinion and it becomes, 'Ah, but he's done this, he's done that', and they are speaking about things that happened when I was a kid. 'Time has moved on, it's over a decade ago. But it's crazy sometimes how people don't move on. Kevin Nolan remembers the lost talent of Ravel Morrison 'So many people have formed an opinion about me, but those opinions are based on things that happened 10 to 15 years ago. 'I'm 32 now. I've played football around the world and had a good career. I'm not a kid of 16 or 17 anymore. 'But then again, I have to look at myself because it all stems from my own mistakes. I did some things that were wrong and I can't blame anyone but myself." 5 5 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW Also in the PFA's 42-man training squad this week is Morrison's fellow ex-Man Utd youth product Ryan Tunnicliffe. The midfielder won the FA Youth Cup in 2011 alongside the likes of Morrison, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Sam Johnstone and Michael Keane. Following two first team appearances for the Red Devils, Tunnicliffe went on to sign for Fulham, Millwall, Luton and Portsmouth. He now finds himself a free agent aged 32 following a season Down Under with Adelaide United. Also on the list is ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Jamal Blackman. The 31-year-old left Stamford Bridge in 2021 without a senior appearance, despite having appeared on the first team bench several times, and most recently played for Shrewsbury. Ex-Newcastle ace Rolando Aarons is in the squad as well as former Tottenham academy prospect Jaden Brown. 5 Ryan Tunnicliffe turned out for Adelaide United last season Credit: Getty
The Sun
a minute ago
- The Sun
Ravel Morrison targets English football comeback as he joins new PFA transfer list with ex-Man Utd and Chelsea stars
RAVEL MORRISON has joined up with the PFA's pre-season training squad. The initiative has been running all summer for footballers that find themselves without a club. 4 By joining up with the PFA pre-season squad, Morrison appears to be targeting a return to English football. The former Manchester United wonderkid last played on these shores for Derby County during the 2021-22 season. Morrison has since turned out for DC United in MLS and UAE side Precision. The midfielder was also in action for Jamaica back in June, bossed by ex-England manager Steve McClaren. While he has also featured in the Baller League at London's Copper Box Arena. Earlier this summer, Morrison pleaded with bosses of English sides to ignore his wild reputation and give him a chance. The former England youth international told The Athletic: "I do believe I can play in the Championship — easy. The frustrating thing is I'm not getting the opportunity. 'My agent has spoken to a lot of sporting directors, chief scouts and heads of recruitment, and we've got really close to an agreement. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'Then they get the manager's opinion and it becomes, 'Ah, but he's done this, he's done that', and they are speaking about things that happened when I was a kid. 'Time has moved on, it's over a decade ago. But it's crazy sometimes how people don't move on. Kevin Nolan remembers the lost talent of Ravel Morrison 'So many people have formed an opinion about me, but those opinions are based on things that happened 10 to 15 years ago. 'I'm 32 now. I've played football around the world and had a good career. I'm not a kid of 16 or 17 anymore. 'But then again, I have to look at myself because it all stems from my own mistakes. I did some things that were wrong and I can't blame anyone but myself." 4 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW Also in the PFA's 42-man training squad this week is Morrison's fellow ex-Man Utd youth product Ryan Tunnicliffe. The midfielder won the FA Youth Cup in 2011 alongside the likes of Morrison, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Sam Johnstone and Michael Keane. Following two first team appearances for the Red Devils, Tunnicliffe went on to sign for Fulham, Millwall, Luton and Portsmouth. He now finds himself a free agent aged 32 following a season Down Under with Adelaide United. Also on the list is ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Jamal Blackman. The 31-year-old left Stamford Bridge in 2021 without a senior appearance, despite having appeared on the first team bench several times, and most recently played for Shrewsbury. Ex-Newcastle ace Rolando Aarons is in the squad as well as former Tottenham academy prospect Jaden Brown. 4
North Wales Chronicle
6 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Intensity of India series will help England in Ashes battle
McCullum was honest enough to chalk up the 2-2 scoreline as a 'fair reflection' on seven weeks of hard-fought, demanding cricket, with India snatching a share of the new Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with a thrilling six-run win in the decider. That meant England were one big hit away from claiming an outright victory that would have sent them to Australia this winter with the biggest scalp of the 'Bazball' era. India win by 6 runs 💔 The Anderson Tendulkar trophy is shared 🤝 A simply incredible finale to an epic series 👏 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 4, 2025 Instead, they will travel having last defeated one of their 'big three' rivals back in Sir Alastair Cook's farewell series in 2018. McCullum will soon begin the job of assessing how and where things could have gone better, with the aim of landing in Perth at the start of November with lessons learned. 'It's been a magnificent series, as good as I've been involved with or witnessed in my time. We played some excellent cricket and at times, with the pressure India put us under, we came up a little bit short,' he said. 'You're always learning any time you get to see guys having to dig deep and go to places they've maybe not been before. 'We'll let this one sit and we'll digest it. We'll be able to pick out what has gone well then start to work out how we can keep improving, so when we do arrive out in Australia we give ourselves a huge chance. 'We're in the middle now, halfway through what we knew was going to be an unbelievable 12 months of Test cricket. We know we've got some room to improve. 'But to be involved in a series of such pressure over a period like this teaches you to be tough and builds resilience within you. A lot of our guys will have learnt a lot and that can only be a good thing.' One thing England may reflect on is their decision to keep the emerging talent of Jacob Bethell in camp for the most of the summer, rather than releasing him to play first-class cricket. He has played just one County Championship match for Warwickshire this year, while travelling as a non-playing squad member with the Test team. When he was called on as Ben Stokes' injury replacement, he made 11 runs in two innings and was dismissed in a pressurised chase playing a wild slog. McCullum refused to chide him for that, though. 'Beth will be back and better for the experience, I'm sure he'll learn from it,' he said. 'The good thing was he took the positive option. The thing people want to be seen to be doing is getting out to a ball in an acceptable manner, but sometimes you've got to be brave enough to be able to try and put some pressure back on the opposition. He got out doing it, but no one ever regretted being positive, right?' Bethell's flat performance means Ollie Pope can breathe a little easier about hanging on to his number-three spot in Australia. After starting the international season with successive hundreds – against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge and India at Headingley – his numbers tailed off. He finished the series averaging 34 and sat a disappointing 10th on the run-scoring charts. 'There were too many 20s and a 40 in there. You always want more as a batter so it's frustrating that I didn't end up scoring more hundreds on some good surfaces,' said Pope. 'That's probably the difference between a really good series and a so-so series. I feel like I'm a much better player now than I was on my first Ashes trip (in 2020/21). 'Mentally, I'm more equipped to deal with the challenges out there and I know how I want to go about building innings out there. 'Before I felt like I was kind of trying to tinker too much during games, in between games, and probably wasn't quite ready for the challenge four years ago.'
