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.

Two things that to me are prominent about Bateman.

1. A happy Bateman is a class player.

2. From his travelling people background, Bateman will fight anyone, he has little regard for danger. Makes him someone to avoid tussling with, including your coach.

My guess is the ideal formula for Bateman is being in a happy environment and having a coaching setup that puts an arm around you rather than waving it in your face.

I can’t think of any better place for Bateman that fits right now than Warrington.

I’m very much looking forward to him coming.

Quote: Boss Hog "There was an alleged incident with Lee Mossop when they were both playing for Wigan.'" Not alleged, actual. https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/rugby ... y-17094449

Quote: Boss Hog "There was an alleged incident with Lee Mossop when they were both playing for Wigan.'" Not alleged, actual. https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/rugby ... y-17094449

He can move in immediately on Junction Nine retail park. Nice one.

I can see your point to a point BUT Hardaker in 2017 was pivotal to that Cas team 2nd in MOS behind Gale and all at 48hrs notice.

A happy productive Bateman for the run in is a gamble but we are hardly building the team around him and you would hope that we've got strong enough personalities on and off the field to deal with any shenanigans much in the same way as the Bullock Russell affair.

If the boot was on the other foot would we have taken a chance on T King or Cooper given their admittedley different indiscretions?

We have no idea what discussions have been held, who has said what to whom, what level of performance has been promised, what warning have been given, etc......but we have to trust our coaching team that they can get something out of Bateman between now and the end of the season.

If it doesn't work, then off he goes to Wakefield with every other off contract player!

Totally with you on this. Hopefully he is here until the end of the season. We'll see how it goes & move on from there.

I'm not questioning your RL knowledge but I do question whether you can see into the future. If this signing is announced, we simply don't know at this time if it's disastrous or not. I am prepared to trust Mr Warrington and Sam.

Disastrous is a bad take, in my opinion. He’s a competitor, he fights in every contest. Similarly, we signed Sam Powell and everybody, myself included, thought it was a waste. But Powell has demonstrated his worth on the pitch, but importantly he sets standards of discipline and resilience. You don’t need them traits to score nice tries, and to put on a good show. But you need them if you’re going to stick around at the back end of big competitions.

If Bateman can come in and lift us up 1 or 2 percentage points, then it’s a worthwhile exercise.

I’m not convinced, but I see the logic.