Former Super League duo commit to Championship strugglers as one extends deal and another joins

Following a disappointing year in the Championship, struggling Hunslet RLFC have announced that two former Super League players have committed to the club and will play for them in 2026.

After promotion saw them elevated to the second division in 2025, the Leeds-based outfit found life back in the division above difficult, and finished the year rock bottom of the table, picking up just two wins all season.

Whilst injures to key players did no help to their cause, the Parksiders ended up sacking coach Dean Muir half-way through the year, leaving former Hull KR man Kyle Trout in charge. However, that wouldn’t be enough to change their fortunes, as they finished winless under their new boss.

In what will be a restructured second tier next year, Hunslet will be hoping for a more competitive season, and have started to bring that hope to life after announcing that two former Super League men will don the club’s jersey in 2026.

First, former St Helens and Huddersfield Giants man Lee Gaskell has committed to the club for another year, after joining the club ahead of their return to the Championship. Gaskell, a former Grand Finalist, was one of many players last year that suffered injury, but on his day remains a lethal half-back that has the ability to give Hunslet that attacking threat they lacked in the season just gone.

Joining him will be a former teammate, as ex-London Broncos and Wakefield Trinity prop Eddie Battye becomes the latest addition to the Parksiders, making the move from Sheffield Eagles.

The pair were together at Trinity in 2022 and part of 2023, and made 19 appearances in the same side. Battye, 34, has spent the last two years at the Eagles, making over 50 appearances in his second stint at the club.

Ex-Super League pair delighted to make Championship switch as one re-signs and another joins

Speaking on his contract extension, Gaskell can’t wait to get started as he hopes to be a big part of Hunslet’s rise next year.

“I am very pleased to confirm that I have re-signed with Hunslet for the upcoming season,” he said. “Last year didn’t go the way any of us wanted it to, but I am looking forward to helping the team push on and make improvements this time around.”

Battye, meanwhile, is excited to be working under coach Trout, as he too wants to be part of the improvements.

He said: “I am really happy to have signed for Hunslet and I cant wait to get stuck into this new exciting challenge.

“I have been talking to Kyle for some time and I am really excited to start working with him. He is a young, hungry coach, with a lot of great ideas and he has big plans for the team going forward. My aim is to help the club move forward and to continue to build on the strong foundations that the club have begun to lay. I can’t wait to get started.”

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