Beer gut.

Whatever is the full story behind the Bateman debacle (funny how nobody came in for him while we were paying his full wage for being injured and in rehab) the sad truth is that a club with only 3000 season ticket holders won't be able, in the medium term, to keep any top players, or build up a top squad. Workmanlike is all you can hope for. And whatever the sales are to date, this sort of news will all but kill any substantial further sales. Which makes me suspect we had no choice.

As a player Bateman clearly has outstanding ability in flashes, which other players don't have, but I can't remember a game that he took by the scruff of the neck, or turned, and it's true he's not the biggest. I'd say we've lost his potential (whatever that is) and if Wigan can sort him out then he could become a top player but that would just mean he would join the legion of players, all still playing, that were and could or should still be Bulls. For players still playing, that goes back to criminally losing Jamie Peacock and Leon Pryce as a result of the Harris farrago, to the inevitability of the loss of Burgesses Sam, George and Tom to Aus, to the likes of Atkins and Bridge, Ferres, Wardle, Kopczak and Larne Patrick picking up League Leader's Shield medals, Whitehead of course, as well as the likes of Menzies and Elima. Not to mention on the coaching side with coaches such as Paul Anderson and occasional pot-lifting Brian Mac.

At least the Bulls are doing their bit for world rugby, if not for their long-suffering fans.

I wonder if we may get one or two loanees from Wigan as part of this deal? I know it hasn't been mentioned as yet but the Pies do seem to have a plethora of players at the moment and only so many can join Leigh or South Wales. I'd particularly look towards a prop forward or two, perhaps an outside back.

Perhaps they'll loan us Bateman back on a season long loan?

nah the spare pies will be heading to london so they can field a team

Bateman? Hardly a loss. Massively over-hyped, seemingly almost permanently injured, and, alledgedly a complete tool off the park.

Off you pop. Never rated you anyway.

Don't think there's an allegedly about it. I'm not sure there's a bigger chav in all of Super League, and I've taken Charnley & Hardaker into consideration. You can forgive chaviness if the player is good enough to cancel it out. Jury is out on Bateman yet I feel. He could go the way of a Sean O'Loughlin, or he could end up another Matt Cook. Time will tell. Either way, I'd be surprised if he didn't have 5 kids from different mums by the time he retires.

Everything I have heard about him off the pitch does not exactly paint him in a particularly good time. Classic case of "Billy Big Time" it seems.

Spent two seasons predominantly on the treatment table and despite being unable to actually do his job properly, seemed to be ok at the weekends up the town I am led to believe.

Sod him.

There's a lot or people on here who claim to know it all. Any chance of Saturdays lotto numbers? Would solve all the problems then

How many of you know Bateman personally?

My uncle is a Wigan fan. I'm not saying this is true, and I really can't see it being so, but he tells me that he's heard that they're after Foster to replace Pat Richards. I'm just passing this on in case anyone else has heard anything similar?

I haven't, but if you look at their squad, they surely need to sign another winger. After Charnley, who else is going to play on the wing for them, unless they move one of the centres there (Goulding or Thornley). And if they do that, their first choice centre is Anthony Gelling.

To me, Wigan's squad is sorely missing a quality three quarter, so I wouldn't be surprised if they were after someone.

I believe you & you have my utmost sympathy.