John Bateman’s sensational mid-season departure from the Wests Tigers has shocked the rugby league world, with some questioning whether Bateman, or the club, is the problem.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Bateman has been loaned to Super League club Warrington Wolves for the remainder of this season before returning to Concord next year to see out the remaining two years of his contract.
However some aren’t buying the club’s explanation, with journalist Dean Ritchie telling Tuesday night’s NRL 360 he “cannot see at his age how he can go home now and come back.”
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Describing the situation as “one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever heard”, Ritchie added his belief that Bateman is “gone for good.”
Host Braith Anasta, who spent two seasons at the Tigers in the early 2010s, simply couldn’t believe the move.
“What the hell is going on here?” he asked.
Fox League’s Paul Crawley scrutinised the move, believing that “even if it saves you a bit of salary cap, you’ve got the credibility of your own club (to protect).”
Bateman signed a four-year deal with the Tigers at the beginning of 2023, but has been far from his best for much of his time at the struggling club, with whispers the Englishman is unhappy at the club a constant throughout the last few years.
While Crawley believes some of the onus for his performances fall on Bateman’s shoulders, he questioned whether the Tigers have something to answer for in this saga.
“I think the Tigers have got a little bit to answer to,” Crawley said.
“Other clubs were chasing John Bateman (and) he goes to the Wests Tigers because they think he can play (and) he doesn’t perform there.”
However, Bateman, like star edge Isaiah Papali’i, recruited to the club off the back of a stellar 2022 season for the Eels, have failed to hit the heights they’ve previously hit in their careers.
“Are they the problem or the club?” Crawley asked.
However, rugby league legend Gorden Tallis was quick to shift the blame entirely away from the club.
“When you’re a 31 year old, you’ve played the amount of footy he has, I think Bateman has to take a bit of responsibility (for his form),” Tallis said.
“We all watched how he played at the Raiders, he was arguably one of the best back rowers in the comp.
“He left to go to England and when he came back you would think he would play to that standard.
Papali’i’s shock comments post exit | 02:37
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“If I’m honest I don’t think he’s played to his standard.”
Anasta agreed Bateman has been far from his best during his time at the Tigers, but questioned what has prompted the Englishman to leave midway through the year.
“Has he been pushed here? Or has he asked to leave?” Anasta asked.
“It makes no sense whatsoever.”
The former Bulldogs star believes Bateman, at this stage of his career, will “not be a better player next year than he is right now.”
Crawley questioned whether the club may be pulling off a subtle masterstroke in letting the Englishman return home and find his form again, which in turn will “make him more attractive to rival clubs.”
However, Anasta insisted any form found in the Super League is “deceptive.”
“It doesn’t mean you’re going to play better here.”
“I don’t think he’s earned the stripes” | 02:29
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Leading him to believe the decision to allow Bateman to move to Warrington on loan is a sign the Tigers are moving on from the back rower.
Ritchie agreed it appears as if the Tigers are prepared to allow Bateman to walk, especially considering Tigers CEO Shane Richardson went to England earlier in the year to shop several players to clubs, including Bateman.
Despite this, Ritchie remained bemused by the situation.
“If you get rid of him, you get rid of him!” he said.
“There’s no point getting rid of him in July.”
Source Agencies
