Bateman

[Nordburg]

I think he would have gone alright for us. But the cowboys was a terrible idea for him, that climate...

And now that they are tanking, he will get sick of it all pretty quickly.

What makes you think he’d of gone alright for Manly?He’s been ordinary for many years now and the climate argument is ridiculous,given he’s only played 1 game in NQ and he played a game at Brookie and was poor then too

 

[Nordburg]

Best Manly non- signing of 2025.

This guy is a salary cap thief who is looking so ordinary in the last placed side.

Whoever thought an Englishman could thrive in FNQ must have been on the wacky tbacky.

The Cowboys are a mess and seeing first grade players actually running away from Hass as he charged through was sad for the NRL.

I’m glad many on ST’s aren’t in charge of recruitment at Manly.

 

[Rocky]

Even worse Payten made Nanai swap edges for this has been, I like Payten but that is a terrible selection error.

I think Payten has been dining out on that top4 finish from a few years back.

I think their overall performances have been pretty ordinary outside of that season, and this could be his last year at the Cowboys, the way this is going.

 

[Rafferty]

I’m glad many on ST’s aren’t in charge of recruitment at Manly.

Yes, but the recruitment team at Manly went after him, what’s that say about the recruitment at Manly, we are fast becoming a retirement village for old forwards, our recent forward recruitment speaks for its self.

 

[eaglebuzz]

What makes you think he’d of gone alright for Manly?He’s been ordinary for many years now and the climate argument is ridiculous,given he’s only played 1 game in NQ and he played a game at Brookie and was poor then too

He's living and training up there, day in day out in the tropics. An Englishman. The games are the least concern.

I think he would have gone better for us because he wouldn't be training in miserable heat, with a coach that treats his players with a heavy hand (that his Tigers saga already showed he has no appetite for).

 

[Nordburg]

He's living and training up there, day in day out in the tropics. An Englishman. The games are the least concern.

I think he would have gone better for us because he wouldn't be training in miserable heat, with a coach that treats his players with a heavy hand (that his Tigers saga already showed he has no appetite for).

That’s an interesting theory,given he was ordinary in his last season at the Raiders,went back to Wigan and was ordinary there,then came to the Tigers and was ordinary there,then went back to England and was again,ordinary.I think he’s got most climates covered there and has shown a pattern of performance.If coming to Manly was to be the elixir that turned things around,why isnt it working for every other player in the squad?

 

[Jay Eagle]

Let's be honest..he's been very average since good Canberra days.. we dodged a bullet..or just a good call by our management.

 

[frank stokes]

Let's be honest..he's been very average since good Canberra days.. we dodged a bullet..or just a good call by our management.

Yeah I thought he would add something to our squad but he has been ordinary for the cows…

 

[eaglebuzz]

I thought he was one of their better players in their match against us.

It's no surprise that he was crap at the tigers. Everyone who goes there is. Wigan are no world beaters either.

 

[BirdMan4ever]

I would have preferred Bateman on the left edge instead of burbo any day of the week.

 

[Uk eagle]

Apart from the hooker he was the only one of the cowboys forwards to play the full 80 minutes so maybe the climate argument isn't valid. He also had a prop forward defending outside him in the centres for most of the game so probably had to pick up quite a bit of extra work in terms of lateral defence.
I'm glad we didn't sign him just because he looks like one of those people who could start a fight in an empty room and we seem to give enough dumb penalties away without signing a niggly type player who could add to them without these days offering much in attack.
His best days are behind him. We need players whose best days are still to come

 

[frank stokes]

I would have preferred Bateman on the left edge instead of burbo any day of the week.

At least Burbo has scope though… he was very good tonight and (imo) has been pretty sound all 3 rounds so far (I thought he was really good against the cows actually)

 

[G-land Express]

At least Bruno has scope though… he was very good tonight and (imo) has been pretty sound all 3 rounds so far (I thought he was really god against the cows actually)

I agree. Burbo played his 50th nrl game so could kick on from here. Batemans played 288 1st grade games inc pommy teams.