But do you honestly think he's as likely to go out on the lash, getting into scraps and criticising his club on twitter with Shaun Wane managing him?

I know which one I'd rather answer to.

No I don't, but when other players start realising that they can't do it with Cummins and at our club either then the message will be clear to them. FC wants players to behave professionally and responsibly and it seems some dont want to. That's fine, because no matter how talented they may be, we will keep picking up and developing extremely talented players, but next time they will have been developed by a disciplined and professional system and will believe in the ideas that they have been brought up around.

Sorry but is this the Shaun Wane who showed Gareth Hock the door? He obviously couldn`t frightened the out of him. FC did the right thing. Bateman was and is a loose cannon.

I think it is probably easier to have a more disciplinarian approach if you have he resources of a club like Wigan. You can drop players or ship them out on loan,. We can't afford to do that, we don't have the players to come in.
If we could afford to, I would let the likes of Bateman and Whitehead rot in the reserves until their contracts were up. But we can't so we have to sell them.

I agree 100% with that

After he'd had numerous chances and the club stuck by him. Hock is also 30, unlike Bateman who up until recently was being spoke of as a possible future captain.

If Bateman is such a loose cannon he would be unmanageable. Clearly Wane thinks he has the ability to control him and get the best out go him, FC doesn't.

What we are seeing is the final unwinding of the Mac Pact: we wont sack you for 5 years whilst you develop our young talent into a winning team.

The last couple of years and particularly last year we have thrown our young talent into battle and they and the score board have shown the scars, despite saying that they would be given time to develop and brought on at a speed determined by their needs rather than the teams.

So no surprise for me, my starting 17 had Donaldson starting and Bateman subing for him, because to me that suited both the team and them best.

And Wigan agree with me, Batemans talent needs to be nurtured not driven headlong into a brick wall.

This and the signings eg Winterstein 6'4" and what, 3 stone heavier than Bateman? are to me an indication that the club have said that they cannot build the team around youth, but that they should build a team with the experience and depth that provides a genuine framework for our own talent to develop.

I am confident that we will not miss Bateman now, but we could do in three years, except by which time the next Bateman could have developed in such a much more benign structure.

As for managerial style, what did Ferguson win? How many players did he ship out because of attitude, eg Whiteside...etc etc etc hairdryers etc etc etc?

What we need are players with ability, experience and a point to prove, not prima donnas young or old. So good luck John, and thanks for signing a three year contract so we could demand more compensation.

Bring on the next Bateman, but gently.

Wigan also have a host of current internationals who Bateman has to unseat before he can guarantee himself a starting spot & the chance of honours. Which might focus the mind somewhat.

Franny speaks of the players buying into a certain culture. This, I think is why he has Chev Walker and Matt Diskin in the squad. They're both past their best, but both are good role models to the younger players. They are excellent professionals, who, as far as I'm aware take their career seriously and build their lifestyle around it, whether they are in season or not.

From what I understand, Whitehead and Bateman don't have the same type of discipline once they get away from training. I can think of at least one other player who you could say the same of that is still in the squad. Will this be the end of the departures?

Having a bad culture away from the club that includes drinking and who knows what else can be infectious and spread through the squad in no time, especially with the younger players.

The club stuck by Hock, but Wane, once he got the chance after being charge a short while, got rid of him. Bateman has to change his lifestyle, if he doesn`t Wane won`t muck about. As for a future international skipper the transformation would have to be on a grand scale for that to happen. Sorry he is no Sinfield, first of all he will need elocution lessons.
I really hope he can change because he could be a great player although he is on the small side.

I would say you're absolutely spot on with that assessment. I mentioned a similar thing last year (albeit not on these forums). When Walker signed the new deal, it was even mentioned in the T&A column what a role model he is with his lifestyle and professionalism, in particular refrain from alcohol during the season.

If you make players like that locker room leaders, it's bound to have an effect on other players. If you can get your entire squad buying into it, then it can only be a good thing. A difficult thing to achieve, but something Franny clearly has his sights set on. And why not? It's worked at Leeds.

A lot of this shows the danger of overhyping young players sometimes. If you build them up too much before they’ve made it they can get thinking the grass is greener elsewhere. Bateman’s a long way from the finished article. Whitehead is too TBH. While moving to another club might well do them good in the end it depends on the player themselves as to whether they make it. Has Bateman got the right attitude? Will he knuckle down at Wigan? You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be a RL player but you need to know how to prepare yourself properly. I wonder if he was led astray here at Bradford? I wonder if FC is trying to change the culture here to make sure that can’t happen again? I like to think so.

When you look at Wigan under Maguire they changed the culture of the place massively. Wane bought into that and so did many of the young players they have coming through. Those that didn’t were cut, e.g. Hock. This didn’t take place overnight. When you look at performances by the Bulls over the past 5 or 6 years you can see we weren’t as professional. A lot may be down to having the resources but a lot is down to mindset too. I hope FC is on the right lines. Time will tell.

To be honest I'm pretty sure he has the ability, [or maybe potential is a better word?] but I'm less sure about the mentality and even the physicality given his recent injury record.

I'm gutted that a Yorkshireman has gone to the hillbillies but I am sure that if anyone can sort his head out it is their current set up. See Radlinski's comments about his physical state.

You might think this, Wigan might think this, not sure Mr Bateman does.