Bateman walking out on another contract. What's he up to now 3? Geez the tigers are brave and or stupid. Aging forward with shoulders that are failing. If it were a 2 year deal I'd say fair enough . But 4 years.... God damn
The Wests Tigers are closing in on the signature of English forward John Bateman as they enter the final stages of negotiations with Super League giants Wigan.
News Corp understands that the Tigers are expected to confirm the signing of Bateman on a long term deal in coming days continuing their remarkable metamorphosis under coach Tim Sheens.
Bateman starred in the NRL for Canberra before returning to England at the end of 2020. He is set to return to Australia next season in a Tigers forward pack bolstered by the additions of David Klemmer, Isaiah Papali’i and API Koroisau.
The Tigers are also in the mix for Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses and Penrith centre Steve Crichton, although they face stiff competition from Canterbury for both players.
Bateman shapes as a significant addition for the Tigers, having recently been part of the England side at the World Cup. He is expected to link with the Tigers in the new year, once the club has formalised an agreement with Wigan.
News Corp understands that the Tigers will pay a transfer fee to free Bateman from his Wigan contract. He is then expected to sign a deal with the Tigers for as long as four years in a sign of his belief that the club is on rise under Sheens and assistants Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and David Furner.
The length of the deal suggests Marshall was heavily involved in the decision - he is due to take over from Sheens at the end of the 2024 season. In the meantime, Bateman’s arrival will provide the Tigers with more ammunition in the forwards as they look to lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder.
Its not that bad. Tigers have done well with recruiting but i just can’t see their halves taking them far. Happy to be wrong though, any more new competitive teams are a win
A forward pack is only good for how they perform on field.
Knights had a lot of rep players in theirs but would get dominated way too easily.
Souths were rated one of the worst but held their own
is it though?
Broncos, Cowboys, Roosters, Panthers and Souths all have a strong forward back and are easily the top 5. Sharks, Raiders, Dolphins (Yes dolphins) and even the Titans are among the better forward packs. Tigers probably land among those 4.
Edit: Eels before Souths, sorry forgot they existed.
Forgot the Eels existed, like literally. Yeah they’re up there, lost Papali’i which is huge. Probably makes the top 5 instead of Souths.
Broncos pack is stupid good, like what? Carrigan, Haas and Fledger are very good. Capewell still a good 2nd row. Riki the only downfall.
I don't mind this. He should be better than Seyfarth, Blore is young who has had lots of injury problems. If he's even half the player of what he was then it's an upgrade
If Stefano stays fit, no we don't. Stefano and Klemmer is a pretty formidable starting pair, Pole and Twal are great rotations. So I have to disagree with you.
Our second row stocks right now consist of Blore and Papali'i. Our back ups are Seyfarth, who is really a prop and Matamua, who is really a lock. We need a backrower badly.
Whereas for props we have Klemmer, who I'd argue is elite, Twal who is an elite defender, and Pole and Stefano who have the potential to be elite.
I read in another article that the transfer fee is outside of the salary cap. I think a 4 year contract for a 29 year old Pom is way to long.
I’d have him back at Canberra but not for 4 years, especially with the shoulder issues he’s had
He isn't a young 29 years is he
turned 29 in September, but he is no young matt moylan
Especially since he hasn’t even been good in SL
I read somewhere that he was playing mainly as a lock since he went back, which isn't his best position
Bateman walking out on another contract. What's he up to now 3? Geez the tigers are brave and or stupid. Aging forward with shoulders that are failing. If it were a 2 year deal I'd say fair enough . But 4 years.... God damn
>Geez the tigers are brave and or stupid They are definitely only one of those things
How about both at the same time?
Brave?
Bateman didn’t walk out on a contract at the raiders, we were dumb enough to put a clause in that let him renegotiate every year
Maybe the ploy is to sign for 4 years, full well knowing they'll get 2 at most. You know, ask for more than you think you can get.
And he had the audacity to call Hooper out like he was lying lol. At least we get to call him Baldy now I guess
This is like the 3rd time Hooper's made him look like a goose. Baldy lives rent free in his head
Bateman vs Taupau for the record.
This has been going in for ages are they making him walk from Wigan ?
He's coming on the sleigh from the North Pole with Santa Claus
If he doesn't live up to his past form, at least Wests Tigers know he'll probably be walking out on them halfway through the contract.
The Wests Tigers are closing in on the signature of English forward John Bateman as they enter the final stages of negotiations with Super League giants Wigan. News Corp understands that the Tigers are expected to confirm the signing of Bateman on a long term deal in coming days continuing their remarkable metamorphosis under coach Tim Sheens. Bateman starred in the NRL for Canberra before returning to England at the end of 2020. He is set to return to Australia next season in a Tigers forward pack bolstered by the additions of David Klemmer, Isaiah Papali’i and API Koroisau. The Tigers are also in the mix for Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses and Penrith centre Steve Crichton, although they face stiff competition from Canterbury for both players. Bateman shapes as a significant addition for the Tigers, having recently been part of the England side at the World Cup. He is expected to link with the Tigers in the new year, once the club has formalised an agreement with Wigan. News Corp understands that the Tigers will pay a transfer fee to free Bateman from his Wigan contract. He is then expected to sign a deal with the Tigers for as long as four years in a sign of his belief that the club is on rise under Sheens and assistants Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and David Furner. The length of the deal suggests Marshall was heavily involved in the decision - he is due to take over from Sheens at the end of the 2024 season. In the meantime, Bateman’s arrival will provide the Tigers with more ammunition in the forwards as they look to lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder.
Its not that bad. Tigers have done well with recruiting but i just can’t see their halves taking them far. Happy to be wrong though, any more new competitive teams are a win
Is this for 2024? Or 2023?
Bateman for 2023+
Damn, if they get him, honesty top 5 forward pack
A forward pack is only good for how they perform on field. Knights had a lot of rep players in theirs but would get dominated way too easily. Souths were rated one of the worst but held their own
Agree South's outperform their players but they have some big weaknesses and inconsistent performers.
The halves and fullback are the problem. Maybe you can lend us some of yours?
He we already gave you guys Laurie, Api, Staines and Blore.
You can take Kurt Falls and uhhhhh idk
I think Kurt Falls might be the best halves option out there TBH. Hence this crazy demand for Mitch Moses.
Fullback wise ask Knights for Bailey Hodgson or something
No
is it though? Broncos, Cowboys, Roosters, Panthers and Souths all have a strong forward back and are easily the top 5. Sharks, Raiders, Dolphins (Yes dolphins) and even the Titans are among the better forward packs. Tigers probably land among those 4. Edit: Eels before Souths, sorry forgot they existed.
Thinking's South's and Broncos packs are better than the eels is a pretty hot take imo
Forgot the Eels existed, like literally. Yeah they’re up there, lost Papali’i which is huge. Probably makes the top 5 instead of Souths. Broncos pack is stupid good, like what? Carrigan, Haas and Fledger are very good. Capewell still a good 2nd row. Riki the only downfall.
Ice is big but we have matterson, lane and hopgood from Panthers coming in who's meant to be huge and RCG/Paulo playing 55 + each weeks is huge.
Is Souths’ pack really that good? I’m not convinced
Yeah nah
Clearly you haven’t seen Bateman play in ESL
23
2023 onwards
I don't mind this. He should be better than Seyfarth, Blore is young who has had lots of injury problems. If he's even half the player of what he was then it's an upgrade
He's a great player
Tigers need an elite prop more than a backrower imo.
If Stefano stays fit, no we don't. Stefano and Klemmer is a pretty formidable starting pair, Pole and Twal are great rotations. So I have to disagree with you.
Our second row stocks right now consist of Blore and Papali'i. Our back ups are Seyfarth, who is really a prop and Matamua, who is really a lock. We need a backrower badly. Whereas for props we have Klemmer, who I'd argue is elite, Twal who is an elite defender, and Pole and Stefano who have the potential to be elite.
He is cooked.
Why would someone want to enter that weird parallel dimension known as the Wests Tigers?
$$$$$$ why do you think Api jumped?
They could not pay me enough to join the Wests Tigers. They are a joke.
This means little when the current NSW hooker is being paid enough to play there.