It’s Canberra - not Sydney/Melbourne. Maybe he should have a chat with Williams and Bateman.
In all seriousness though, it’s an opportunity to test himself at the highest level, careers are short and the earning potential over there is high - so what’s there to lose.
Would be a shame to lose him for 2025, hopefully if he’s going to go we can get another year out of him (and a couple of trophies???)

There's more to Australia than beaches Canberra is ranked second in standard of living in the world, behind Grenoble in France according to a magazine I'm looking at. It's a step up on Padgate I reckon. And it's probably only 3 hours in the car to Sydney if he does want to get his bathers on.

Signed for Oldham

We made the right choice, as I'd be more disappointed at losing Walker for 2025.

Just read that Bateman will be going back to Wests to see out his 2 years there at end of season here.

Wasn’t that always the plan?

There’s was never any official stuff saying anything different.
Some social media rumours saying he was going Souths.
And how he has a fallout with his coach, that had him sat along sides him and was mom in his penultimate game there.

Wests needed to get their cap straight and we had room in ours.
However, I wish he was able to stay at Wire, but I think his family is still over in Aus.

We could never afford Bateman on his current wages, in terms of non-marquee cap space. He serves a purpose for this season which is great for both him and us. Let's hope he gets another winner's ring in his final game.

Holroyd next man up. I guess we still need to replace Nicholson though.

looking like ncholson and fitzgibbon

Really? As in shoulder-injury early retirement? Gutted... one of the best imports we've had in recent years.

Very disappointing for him and us if true. An excellent player. But it will free up a quota spot and presumably a fair chunk of salary cap. If there are any decent second rower’s around we should have some flexibility toget something over the line.

I've heard bits, since he did it. It doesn't look good at all though.

Almost as bad as the mustache he was sporting last week

Gutted if Fitzgibbon’s in jury is that bad for him and for us.

Was that moustache he got the 1 game ban for.

We need Bateman to win a GF in 2023, but we don’t need him to be top 4 material in 2024.
The overall standard of SL this season has been poor imo and I see little sign of change in the make up next season.