John Bateman Wests Tigers to Warrington move, why South Sydney could pounce to sign Englishman, Wayne Bennett, Paul Crawley column – MASHAHER

Don’t be shocked if John Bateman ends up at South Sydney next season playing under Wayne Bennett.

That is the talk coming out of England following Bateman’s bombshell Wests Tigers exit to join Sam Burgess at Warrington.

As it stands, the veteran forward will finish this season only playing under Burgess with Warrington in contention for the club’s first title since 1955.

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But given there is no deal beyond this year for Bateman in England, the plan at this point is to return to the Tigers next year for the final two years of his existing contract.

There is no question the Tigers would be keen to offload Bateman to free up salary cap space if they can find an interested club to take him.

The Rabbitohs link has been denied to me but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

The story of Bateman’s exit shocked everyone this week.

It turns out Burgess had been planning it for at least six weeks.

Sources have confirmed Burgess was initially informed Bateman was being shopped around by the Tigers so he made subtle enquiries to gauge Bateman’s interest in returning to play in the Super League next season.

Bateman initially wanted no part of it but that changed last week as the Tigers continued to struggle and Bateman’s form fell off a cliff.

Burgess was then informed Bateman had changed his mind and would be interested to return for this season.

It is understood Burgess contacted Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson followed by a call to coach Benji Marshall.

From there a deal was worked out over the weekend, although it has not yet been officially signed off on.

There is also talk Bateman had a bust up with Marshall following the weekend’s loss to Souths.

Warrington are coming second on the Super League ladder and there is a real confidence Bateman’s signing could help end the club’s long premiership drought in Burgess’ first season in charge.

There is no question Bateman is playing frustrated and struggling to get anywhere close to the form where he helped Canberra to the 2019 NRL grand final.

Burgess is said to be of the belief he can get Bateman back enjoying his football in a winning environment.

The fact Bateman is fed up at the Tigers and not enjoying his football playing under Marshall makes it hard to comprehend how he could go back there next year.

What is also a fact is Bennett is a massive Bateman fan and tried to get him to the Dolphins before Bateman signed his four-year-deal at the Tigers.

But Warrington apparently don’t have the money to keep Bateman next year.

If that is true, he will be back at the Tigers next year unless he ends up at a rival NRL club.

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WHY ROOSTERS WON’T KEEP WALKER FOR CHICKEN FEED

With debate raging if Sam Walker is worth $1 million-a-season on the NRL open market, the Roosters’ young gun won’t get a better chance to silence his critics than when he goes head-to-head with Daly Cherry-Evans on Saturday.

Walker, 22, has been back in the news this week as he holds off re-signing with the Roosters.

There’s no question Walker wants to stay playing under Trent Robinson, and is odds on to do so.

In saying that, take it as fact he won’t be staying for chicken feed.

And anyone who thinks Walker’s next contract won’t be worth at least $1 million-a-season is living in the dark ages.

With Cherry-Evans yet to announce if he will go around again in Origin next year, Walker is already being mentioned as the next Queensland No 7.

It only makes their showdown this weekend even more intriguing.

I seriously can’t believe it’s even a discussion that Walker won’t be a $1m-plus-a-season playmaker come 2026 when his new deal comes into play.

To put it in perspective, the Dragons paid Ben Hunt $1.1 million-a-season back in 2018 to leave the Broncos, and NRL wages haven’t exactly gone backwards since then.

Factor in Nathan Cleary is on $1.3m, Mitchell Moses and DCE $1.2m, Nicho Hynes $1.1m and Jarome Luai will be on $1.2m at the Tigers next year.

You can say Walker is not at the level of any of those players mentioned at this point.

But there is no argument he is the best young halfback in the NRL right now, and by 2026 his game will most likely be way ahead of where it is today.

Also take into account the likes of Cherry-Evans, Adam Reynolds, Hunt and Jackson Hastings are all off contract at the end of 2025.

That will potentially leave Walker in the box seat to cash in on vacuum of halfback talent that could retire if the Roosters don’t get the deal done before November 1.

The more immediate priority for the Roosters and Walker is bouncing back from last round’s demoralising loss to the under-strength Melbourne Storm against the inform Sea Eagles, who have pulverised the Knights and Titans in their past two games.

No question Walker had a quiet game by his standards against the Storm.

In fairness to him, he didn’t exactly get a lot of help from his forwards who were dominated from the opening set, and the Roosters’ discipline was shocking.

TIGERS YOUNG GUNS ON COLLISION COURSE

Just when you thought Wests Tigers had sorted out the dispute with star teenager Lachlan Galvin, another potential time bomb is already ticking.

This one involves fellow teenager Latu Fainu who will make history alongside Galvin on Friday night, with the two 19-year-olds named to take over from Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks as the Tigers’ youngest starting halves pairing.

While Fainu will be wearing the No 7 against the Warriors, he sees himself as the future No 6 when Jarome Luai arrives next year.

Chat to anyone who watched these two come through the outstanding schoolboy system at Westfields Sports High and it was always Fainu who was considered the player with the most potential.

He is a tremendous ball runner with all the skills and as tough as a $2 steak who can smash in defence.

No question Galvin has done a tremendous job this season in very difficult circumstances, while Fainu’s development has been held back to five games off the bench because of ongoing hamstring issues.

But now he’s back and getting games under his belt, the expectation is Fainu’s career will take off every bit as fast as Galvin’s did earlier in the season.

Galvin is currently signed until the end of 2026 while Fainu is locked up until the end of 2027.

The Tigers are also committed to keeping Latu playing alongside his brothers Samuela and Sione.

Depending on who you talk to, there is conflicting scenarios how Galvin’s career could play out.

Some suggest Galvin will end up in the back row down the track, while others remain adamant he won’t be at the Tigers beyond his current deal with some powerful clubs watching with interest.

The Tigers also have another absolute hotshot coming through the ranks in Onitoni Large who plays halfback.

SYDNEY CLUBS KEEP EYE ON PAPS v FAALOGO SHOOTOUT

No wonder several Sydney clubs are watching with interest to see how the Storm progress with contract talks with Ryan Papenhuyzen, given excitement machine Sua Faalogo is already locked up for the next five years.

Papenhuyzen was exceptional in last round’s win over the Roosters when he came up with some huge plays that just reminded us how good this bloke is.

Even thought it was just his third game back from a leg fracture, already the superstar fullback is shaping up as the Storm’s X factor counting down to the finals.

While Papenhuyzen is off contract at the end of next season and free to negotiate with rivals come November 1, he wants to stay at the Storm and talks are said to be progressing smoothly.

It does make you wonder what Craig Bellamy’s long-term plans are for Faalogo, who also extended earlier this year.

If Papenhuyzen stays injury free, he is up with the best players in the game, so Faalogo won’t be moving him out of fullback.

The problem is Faalogo could walk into a few rival NRL teams playing No 1, and that includes this round’s opponent Parramatta.

With Xavier Coates and Will Warbrick the first choice wingers at the Storm, Faalogo’s immediate future could only be as a bench super sub, or in the centres.

WHY KNIGHTS IS A NO GO ZONE FOR MADGE

It’s a good thing the Knights have the bye this round.

It might give the people running the show a chance to get in a room and try and get on the same page.

The word coming out of Newcastle is coach Adam O’Brien is filthy players have been tapped on the shoulder when the team is still in the hunt to play finals this year.

You can also understand why new recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan is keen to get started given the salary cap mess he was handed.

Throw in the fact Peter Parr was brought into take up a Phil Gould-type general manager of football role but has hardly set the world on fire.

I also find it astounding that the club’s head honcho Philip Gardner signed off on O’Brien’s extension last year that will keep him at the club until the end of 2027.

Even though the Knights charged home on the back of Kalyn Ponga’s phenomenal form, it’s not as if rival clubs were queuing up to sign O’Brien.

And now with triumphant Blues coach Michael Maguire on the prowl for an NRL gig, the Knights have their hands tied.

Yes, a contract in the game these days is hardly worth the paper it’s printed on.

But in this case they reckon O’Brien’s agent Isaac Moses locked it up watertight so that it will make it very hard to break if the club wants to go in a different direction.

Ends