BROTHERS FACE OFF
It’s a cliffhanger for Batchelor boys
JOE BATCHELOR goes to war against his kid brother today — and will be taking no prisoners.
St Helens forward Joe is in the form of his life and desperate to stretch the champions’ Super League lead to six points.
But victory at Belle Vue this afternoon would deal a huge blow to James Batchelor and struggling Wakefield Trinity.
The bottom club are fighting for their lives and seven of their remaining eight games are against top-six sides – including Saints TWICE.
But Batchelor, 27, said he cannot afford to think about the ramifications for 24-year-old brother James, right, and said: “He is my enemy for 80 minutes.
“We have just got to get on with it and act like we do not know each other. I want to beat them but I hope they pick up wins elsewhere.”
Emotions will be trickier for the brothers’ family, who will be out in force for today’s clash.
Batchelor said: “It’s a strange one for them but at least they can all get to the same game to watch us both for a change.
“But I can’t look too much into Wakefield’s position and what it means. All I know is they’re scrapping for their lives. It will be tough.
“They are in a difficult position but they have got players who can cause us problems. When they came to us it was one of the toughest games we’d had in the early rounds because they matched us for energy and intensity.”
Wakefield hand a debut to full-back Jamie Shaul, on loan from Hull, and have winger Lee Kershaw back after 10 months out with a ruptured ACL.
Trinity coach Willie Poching, whose side have lost four on the bounce, said: “There has been a bit of hurt after you lose but it’s important how you move on.
“Saints have been the pacesetters for a number of years. We understand the enormity of the task but are ready to embrace that.”
Batchelor is flying for Saints with three tries in four games, including a brilliant one in the Magic Weekend win over Wigan.
The back-rower collected his own grubberkick before racing in. He also sold an outrageous dummy to send in Jonny Lomax for the last-gasp winning try.
He said: “I practise kicking and some of the lads take the mick because they think I’m messing about.
“But now they know I’m not. We have a fella who comes in to help the kickers but I’ve told him he’s redundant now.
“I’ve watched my try back but I’ve watched Jonny’s try more because it was really poignant in the context of the season.
“We’d practised the situation of being behind with a couple of minutes left, and everything came off for us in that moment.
“That win, and the way we did it, is in my top three wins, with the Grand Final and the Challenge Cup.”