Thanks for the kind words.

It doesn't does it? Two half decent performances against relegation candidates who can barely stand up in a strong wind let alone do anything constructive isn't going to convince me he's back to his best. If Bentley had played for Leeds, Bateman would have been crying in the corner like he was all last season. Another good opportunity to flex his muscles at the weekend against half a Catalans team though.

Interesting that you take his one poor season as the benchmark and not the many outstanding seasons he's had including his Dally M winning one. As I say; balanced poster.

I take it you'll equally be dismissing anything Knowles does until he proves himself in the NRL? As you point out, bullying 'also rans' like Wakey and Hull KR in the Superleague is hardly a marker of greatness, is it? He needs to prove himself in the elite competition like Morley, Whitehead and...erm...oh yeah, Bateman.

You can stop that now,being honest and sensible as you know Knowles is far superior than Bateman or indeed Lockers as quoted by Wilkin.

He was beyond poor last season, way beyond. I would pick the England team based on his most recent six months of playing. His start to this season would give him some credit and if he carries on all season doing the good stuff he's apparently doing, then he'll be a valid suggestion, but not on four games against relegation candidates (And Huddersfield). You can't pick him for England because he used to be good.

and yet you would be the sort of poster that would say - x cant be picked for England based on one good season.............

I would pick players that are performing now so Bateman is ok really to be picked on current form.

Yes, but he plays for Wigan and no Wigan players should ever be picked for England.

Then again, if they weren't there'd be nobody to boo so half the crowd would be moaning at that.

Totally agree,some people cannot see passed their dislike for Wigan that it pains them to say " you know what he could do a good job for England".
Pick players in form no matter who they play for,I for one would cheer the loudest if Knowles scored the winning try against Australia.
Currie,Bateman,Farrell are a good shout but lets see how the season pans out first.

Bateman would be the first name on the team sheet for me.

Bateman comes up against a decent pack for once and is completely humiliated. McMeekan is another name ahead of him for a backrow spot for England. Bateman had absolutely no impact on that game other than getting Ellis and Dezaria sent off by having a paddy because his teammate got dominated in a tackle.

Bateman has to be the most overrated back rower since o Loughlin. He’s like George Williams. Looked great in the NRL due to the players around him. Wasn’t just the Catalans pack
That humiliated him. I remember him mouthing off last season to the Wigan local press how he was going to smash the St. Helens pack and then proceeded to get absolutely mullered by Bentley

This Wigan love has to stop please