He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Hunslet, Hull F.C., Wakefield Trinity, and Castleford, as a , or . He is noted as one of the greatest of his era, one of the game's first superstars, Batten was a brilliant athlete and a huge crowd-puller – and also well aware of his own worth.
Batten excelled at various levels, including representing Great Britain, England, and Yorkshire, as well as playing for Hunslet, Hull F.C., Wakefield Trinity, and Castleford. He is regarded as one of the best of his time, a pioneering superstar in the sport, who was not only an outstanding athlete but also a crowd magnet – and had a keen sense of his own importance.