2025 recruitment & retention
- Thread starter Disco
- Start date
As long as he does not come with fleas we will take him
Patolo is a funny 1
Has shown some real glimpses but been riddled by injuries
He has been labelled a front rower, but actually plays plenty of edge through the grades
I'm interested to see how he performs, just maybe a decent pickup if stays healthy
Wests Tigers willing to pay eye-watering amount to avoid John Bateman return
John Bateman looks set to leave the Wests Tigers this off-season following the breakdown of his relationship with Benji Marshall.
The England international, who spent the second half of the NRL season on loan at the Warrington Wolves in Super League, appears to have played his last game for the club.
Following the conclusion of the season, Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson fired a warning shotto the former Canberra Raider, stating that he had to fall in line or leave the club.
This came after he left the Tigers partway through the 2024 season, following a reported changing room bust-up with head coach Benji Marshall.
Despite initial suggestions that he would return at the end of the season to fulfil the remaining two years left on his contract, John Bateman now appears to be nearing an exit to join NRL rivals, Manly Sea Eagles.
As Bateman’s Tigers departure edges nearer, it has now been revealed that the club are willing to subsidise an eye-watering amount to get him off the books.
Wests Tigers willing to cover half of John Bateman’s salary to secure exit
According to Michael Chammas of the Sydney Morning Herald, speaking on Listnr’s Footy Talk League podcast, the Wests Tigers are willing to go to extreme lengths to secure Bateman’s departure.Bateman currently earns a reported $600,000 AUD (approximately £308,000) at the Tigers. Chammas believes that the club are willing to subsidise around half of this to facilitate Bateman’s move away.
He said: “From what I gather, the Tigers are willing to pay $300,000 a season. He’s on sixes at the Tigers. They’re willing to chip in quite a bit to let him go,” Before adding: “Benji Marshall wants him out the door more than anyone.”
Chammas went on to explain that the breakdown in Marshall and Bateman’s relationship was caused by a dispute after Marshall singled the England international out for criticism for a poor performance against the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Bateman took issue with this and confronted Marshall about being called out in front of the whole team. This appears to have caused an irreparable rift in their relationship.
He concluded: “John Bateman has no intention of playing for the West Tigers ever again and doesn’t want to go there. He will go there though to make sure he gets paid his final two years of salary.”
Manly Sea Eagles set to offer John Bateman an NRL lifeline
Following the seemingly terminal dispute between Marshall and Bateman, his future appears to lie elsewhere, with the Manly Sea Eagles reportedly offering Bateman a lifeline in the NRL.Manly are understood to be in the market for a hard-hitting left-sided back-rower and Bateman could provide the perfect solution.
He had been linked with a return to Super League, however, even with the Tigers willing to cover a significant proportion of his salary, his remaining £300,000 a year salary would put him out of reach of most Super League clubs and make him one of the best-paid players in the competition.
Bateman had a solid, if unspectacular, return to Warrington as he formed part of a side which reached the playoff semi-finals under head coach Sam Burgess.
After a challenging 2024 season, he will be desperate to prove that he is still capable of competing at the top of the NRL once this Wests Tigers exit is finally confirmed.
double hoops
First Grader
Do we once again have a pommy in our side? You would think it pretty much done if Tigers are paying half. Wow they want this man gone. PS Seibs ahh may be cancel that trial game in Gladstone next year.
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Rumoured to be on 650K a season, 1.3 million for the two years and if the Tigers throw in 600K it could be on by the sound of it.
I am sure Seibold could control his personality, with the Tigers throwing that much coin in just to get him out of the club something must of went down there.
double hoops
First Grader
It has been said that Bateman had issues with Benji long before the Souths game blow up over how Benji treated the kids like gods and didn't give him and the older blokes the respect that their experience and position in the game deserved.
Benji highlighting to him Infront of the young blokes in the shed how Bateman lost em the game by not playing like an experienced campaigner in a crucial play or two when that game was in the grind just brought their tensions to ahead. Or something along those lines.
Benji highlighting to him Infront of the young blokes in the shed how Bateman lost em the game by not playing like an experienced campaigner in a crucial play or two when that game was in the grind just brought their tensions to ahead. Or something along those lines.
Thank you for the info on Patolo feathered friend
I regards to his injury concerns . It is all up to Lady Luck
In regards how he performs . It is all up to how much Seibold can get out of him
Think Deep @Disco
It is not all about the money
It is all about how you spend the money and what you do with your investment
You can get a great value up and coming young prospect
You can find a player with potential and build them up to be a star
The money sounds right but he has to come with his sleeves rolled up in the right mind set or otherwise don't bother.
silvereagle
Reserve Grader
I think the Seibold connection and the coaching personality will make this move a major success. Bateman is an interesting character who I have always thought needs interesting management. I would classify his last two coaches (Sticky and Benji) as blunt hard arses ala their way or the highway. Not sure this would get the best sustained performance from a J Bateman. I think Seibold can achieve this next year and solve our left edge issue. One issue solved....another two issues to go!!!
double hoops
First Grader
Given Seibs coached Sam at Souths, he certainly has a relationship with him in some way. That's something I haven't actually considered until now. We might be going for him over what Sam B has said to Seibs.
silvereagle
Reserve Grader
A dominant middle forward and a legitimate hooker. Simkin I think would solve the latter but not heard anything on the former. That would give us a premiership winning team.
I'm going back there: Bateman shuts down talk of Wests Tigers departure
England's John Bateman insists he is mystified by reports linking him with an early departure from Wests Tigers.
www.nrl.com
If Bateman joins the Sea Eagles, I would have him at 13 and move Jake to Prop.
I'd have Bateman covering the right side in defence to plug those gaps that DCE and Garrick leave and that gives us a right edge which I'd change up a bit of Olakau'tu, Bateman, DCE, Garrick and Saab. DCE, Garrick and Saab are still likely to be exposed, however, I think Bateman would shut it down.
DCE is not a poor defender, however, unfortunately he rushes out of the line too much and that leaves his outside guys too exposed. When it works, it looks great with intercept tries etc. However, when it doesn't, he looks like an idiot! I think Bateman would call him to stay in the line.
Assuming Lodge has gone, that leaves us with Paseka, Aloiai, Bullemor, Jake and Toff as our props,.Tavega will add a new dimension as well.
The way the game is going, I would want a forward with great leg speed and a quick play the ball. You have to keep the opposition on the back foot, and a quick play the ball does that. Jake is great at it, as is Turbo, so is Bateman. Some like Olakau'tu, are slow at it and that's where he needs to improve.
I'd have Bateman covering the right side in defence to plug those gaps that DCE and Garrick leave and that gives us a right edge which I'd change up a bit of Olakau'tu, Bateman, DCE, Garrick and Saab. DCE, Garrick and Saab are still likely to be exposed, however, I think Bateman would shut it down.
DCE is not a poor defender, however, unfortunately he rushes out of the line too much and that leaves his outside guys too exposed. When it works, it looks great with intercept tries etc. However, when it doesn't, he looks like an idiot! I think Bateman would call him to stay in the line.
Assuming Lodge has gone, that leaves us with Paseka, Aloiai, Bullemor, Jake and Toff as our props,.Tavega will add a new dimension as well.
The way the game is going, I would want a forward with great leg speed and a quick play the ball. You have to keep the opposition on the back foot, and a quick play the ball does that. Jake is great at it, as is Turbo, so is Bateman. Some like Olakau'tu, are slow at it and that's where he needs to improve.
LeonardCohen
Bencher
This article reads like smoke and mirrors to me. I feel like maybe he is digging his heels in to ensure the ball is in the Tigers court and that if they want to move him on, they’ll have to pay for it!I'm going back there: Bateman shuts down talk of Wests Tigers departure
England's John Bateman insists he is mystified by reports linking him with an early departure from Wests Tigers.
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