Josh Battle

[TC]

Whispers are that he wants to be a forward. Played well there for a part of a quarter a few weeks ago. We are looking for a tall partner for King. Why wouldn’t we play him forward when Doug is back? Is that why Hammer has been sent to defence.

[Yorkeys]

Can't stop him. It's not Long Bay.

We can pay him

Win the Battle but lose the war?

[St Dave]

Or replacing Howard?

I don't think Howard is any threat of going, or that the club would be eager to get rid even if he was keen, at least without an immediate equivalent replacement. Battle they have no control over so planning for that happening makes sense

He means replacing Howard at full back while Howard is injured and Cordy has been dropped.

That makes even less sense. How would he be replacing our number one key back on barely any training in the position or with the back 6, he needs time training and match time probably in the twos before he makes that step. In the short term Cordy is not playing that bad that he would be left out if the club felt they needed that role covered. Caminiti would be well down the list for an immediate match long replacement.

[Devilhead]

If Battle leaves we will finish last next year

He is a key pillar of our backline who is currently irreplaceable

[B.M]

He will definitely leave

[Devilhead]

He will definitely leave

You have it on good authority?

[Devilhead]

Just our luck that he does and that this draft has no superstar mids at the top end

The u18 National Champs aren't throwing up any stand out guns .... a lot of inconsistent performances on show

[SydneySainter]

He will definitely leave

You have it on good authority?

Of course he’ll leave. He’s been committed through two failed rebuilds and now we’re beginning another.

He’s being courted by teams with a future, so why wouldn’t he leave.

[magnifisaint]

He will definitely leave

You have it on good authority?

Of course he’ll leave. He’s been committed through two failed rebuilds and now we’re beginning another.

He’s being courted by teams with a future, so why wouldn’t he leave.

So Saints have no future?

[SydneySainter]

He will definitely leave

You have it on good authority?

Of course he’ll leave. He’s been committed through two failed rebuilds and now we’re beginning another.

He’s being courted by teams with a future, so why wouldn’t he leave.

So Saints have no future?

Not during his career they don’t.

[terry smith rules]

We love Josh because he seems to be a heart and soul player, who is a consistently good player

However in reality players leave clubs and if we get a good compensation pick then that is ok with me.

Why?

1 in Arie we seem to have a ready made replacement, who may be a better kick

2 Where does Josh actually fit in the team, you could argue that the following players are all more important based on form and potential

In no particular order Wilkie, Sinclair, NWM, Hill, Henry, Marshall, Wilson, Steele, Windhager, Owens

So he sits somewhere b/w 8 and 12 in the team “pecking order”, good but not indispensable

FQF

[older saint]

If we get tier 1 (straight after our 1st round pick) then long term may be a win 2 top 5 picks and $800k by 6 years for a guy who has never been top 5 B & F and not top 40 AA is a lot.

[Sanctorum]

We love Josh because he seems to be a heart and soul player, who is a consistently good player

However in reality players leave clubs and if we get a good compensation pick then that is ok with me.

Why?

1 in Arie we seem to have a ready made replacement, who may be a better kick

2 Where does Josh actually fit in the team, you could argue that the following players are all more important based on form and potential

In no particular order Wilkie, Sinclair, NWM, Hill, Henry, Marshall, Wilson, Steele, Windhager, Owens

So he sits somewhere b/w 8 and 12 in the team “pecking order”, good but not indispensable

FQF

I concur.

As much as I would prefer to see him stay, if Battle wants to take up a bigger offer elsewhere that's his free choice and won't be the end of the world for the team, especially of it nets a late 1st or early 2nd RDP.

With Anthony Caminiti being groomed to become a key defender, the ever reliable Callum Wilkie and promising youngster Arie Schoenmaker to comprise the 3 tall defenders in 2024 I have thought for a while that Battle might become superfluous in the back half and take up a new role at CHF.