Whitehaven’s Player of the Year from 2023 Josh Rourke has already switched clubs after announcing his departure from West Cumbria in November.
Rourke had agreed a deal with Championship rivals Batley Bulldogs but has now moved on to promoted London Broncos in the Super League.
He’s the third player to depart the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium for Super League following centre Josh Hodson and prop Samy Kibula who have linked-up with Castleford.
Now Batley chairman Kevin Nicholas is suggesting that the Bulldogs will reconsider agreeing release clauses following Rourke’s departure.
He said: “It’s a tricky one and we aren’t having a go at either the players or the clubs who signed them.
“”We understand higher level clubs want to bring in talent and that individuals have ambitions and we wouldn’t want to stand in their way should an opportunity come along – rather we would take pride in having helped them develop.
“But at the same time we have to think of ourselves in the sense that we don’t get compensation when a release clause is activated and that our own plans are disrupted.
“At one stage we were thinking Samy, Josh Hodson and Josh Rourke would be with us in 2024. Now they won’t and we have to adjust accordingly, which given the timing, isn’t necessarily easy.”
The outstanding Rourke, was the major winner on Haven’s presentation night as he picked up half (five) the awards on offer.
He was the Director’s Player of the Year; winner of the Bill McAlone award; Coaches player of the year; Players’ player of the year and Supporters Player of the Year – quite an achievement for one season.
The 23-year-old former Salford Red Devils player – with one Super League appearance on his CV – signed a one-year-deal with Haven in October, 2022 and was considering other offers from within the game ahead of the presentation – finally settling on Batley.
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