JAMES Batchelor believes a failure to adapt to rugby league’s 2026 rule changes is to blame for Hull KR’s lacklustre start in Super League.
The reigning champions suffered their third defeat in four games on Saturday evening as they were beaten 26-20 away to Catalans Dragons, with ill-discipline and conceding set restarts proving a problem for Willie Peters’ side throughout.
Changes aimed at speeding up the game, including more stringent policing of ruck infringements by match officials, were introduced ahead of the campaign and second row Batchelor blamed Hull KR’s early struggles on a failure to come to terms with that.
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“It’s different to last year and it’s something we’re adapting to – and we’ve got to adapt quickly because that’s the moments we’re getting them out of their end and up to our half of the pitch,” Batchelor told BBC Radio Humberside.
“Once they’re there, we’ve got to defend our line better as well.
“We’ve got to be disciplined for 80 minutes, with or without the ball.
“The rules have changed, so those moments where you try to force something are more important now.”
Specific set restart stats for Super League are hard to come by, but a Rugby League Eye Test study on the NRL – where similar rule changes have been implemented – showed a 63 percent year-on-year increase in set restarts over the first three rounds of the 2026 season.
Ironically, Hull KR’s one bright spot so far this year came against NRL opposition when they held off 2025 champions Brisbane Broncos to triumph in the World Club Challenge last month.
The Robins now prepare to host a St Helens side who have won four of their first five Super League matches under new head coach Paul Rowley, and sit third in the table behind Warrington Wolves and still-unbeaten early leaders Wigan Warriors.
In Batchelor’s view, those sides have all been better adapting to the way the game is now being officiated, although struggled to put his finger on how and why.
“I don’t know what they’ve been doing, it might be something to do individuals or things they’ve done preparing for those situations,” Batchelor said.
“We’ve improved in certain areas – with the ball we are improving in certain areas and where to get our wins, but defensively we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
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