Probably to do with the fact Bullock is crap and wouldn’t play with a broken finger nail.

IMO Bateman is done with regards to the NRL competition despite him being still under contract at Wests for another 2 years.
He's not coming over to SL on loan at Warrington for the remainder of the season and then going back to Wests to fulfill his remaining contract surely?

IMO he's after a big pay day in SL from 2025 onwards
Personally I would tread very carefully as he is well past his sell by date

A few Wire fans, and it seems someone within the ranks of our club wanted Dufty gone last season…
He was to be dropped…

Sam still in Aus and 2 weeks after the announcement of him coming for 2024, specifically said that Dufty must play the rest of the season.

In Sam we trust.

Have you not seen Bateman play last couple seasons?He’ll think he’s won the lottery coming here on a good wedge.

Hopefully the late night that Fitzy and Sam had planned last night concluded the deal. Wests have been playing hard ball to get JB off their books permanently.

Are you a troll? Your posts are so unremittingly negative - even in a season where we are playing some superb rugby - it's hard to believe you're really a Wire fan. However, to address your opening sentence: if it is your honestly-held opinion that shipping out Joe Bullock and bringing in John Bateman represents poor business on the club's behalf, then yes, you are missing something. Namely, the ability to watch rugby league matches and properly assess what you are seeing.

I have a slight apprehension to the Bateman signing if it is confirmed. Can he hit form like he did for the his first Wigan stint? However, would he get into the England side under Wane? yes i would imagine, so he could show the same bite and experience for Big Sam.

He has won the big time so maybe it does make sense to bring a calibre of his in, even if hes not hitting the same form, just for experience alone.

Time will tell. Up the wire.

It would appear the reason for Bateman's availability is that he had a bust up, similar to the one involving him at Wigan. You can't just erupt on the coach like that. This changes things for me. Too much potential to disrupt the squad's balance as we go into the most crucial part of the season. I can see a Hardaker 2017-style moment on the horizon, should we get to the grand final.

Quote: easyWire "It would appear the reason for Bateman's availability is that he had a bust up, similar to the one involving him at Wigan. You can't just erupt on the coach like that. This changes things for me. Too much potential to disrupt the squad's balance as we go into the most crucial part of the season. I can see a Hardaker 2017-style moment on the horizon, should we get to the grand final.'" https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/jo ... tedly-over

Quote: easyWire "It would appear the reason for Bateman's availability is that he had a bust up, similar to the one involving him at Wigan. You can't just erupt on the coach like that. This changes things for me. Too much potential to disrupt the squad's balance as we go into the most crucial part of the season. I can see a Hardaker 2017-style moment on the horizon, should we get to the grand final.'" https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/jo ... tedly-over

You would like to think we have sufficient resilience to withstand something like this without too much drama. We had the unrest with Russell and Bullock and that was dealt with easily enough.

I think Bateman will have a lot of respect for Burgess.

Hardly likely to have a bust up with Burgess I would think. I remember a game very early though when he just got going in the Wigan side and he tried to have a go at Morley, I found it hilarious at the time but he does have bottle.

Not sure if you intended that pun?

No idea what you mean.

There was an alleged incident with Lee Mossop when they were both playing for Wigan.

Its all well and good thinking oh he (Bateman) will have respect for Burgess, what about the rest of the coaching staff and squad? anyone can act like teachers pet. If the decision was mine you couldn't pay me to have him in the squad, that being said you have to trust the coaching teams decision.