Quote: DaveO "He's not run of the mill but it's what the team needs as well and I don't think he is world class. I don't think he is remotely close to Lockers for example. Just not got the ball playing skills or vision and yet he is often touted as the natural successor. He's more of a hard running 2nd row for me. A very good one but if marquee money is to be splashed about and it comes down to Bateman or a top class 7, we need the top class 7. Despite signing Hardaker (assuming we do) then even if we keep Bateman that will leave us with literally NO ONE to guide the team on-field now Sam T is off as Lockers only seems to play a 1/4 of the game.
If the club manages to keep Bateman [iwithout[/i making him marquee [iand[/i signs a marquee 7 then I will have to revise my opinion of Radlinski's recruitment.'"
Firstly the comparison to Lockers is unfair. John is a far better player now than Lockers was at 24. John if anything is the victim of his versatility, if he was given game time as a 13 and 13 only you'd see how quickly he'd develop, instead he's the first to be shifted to the centres for cover then often to 13 when Lockers is out.
When he covered at 13 v Leeds his passing and movement was surprising, very good hands, very good lateral movement and vision linking the halves. If he was given game time in the position you'd see his passing and vision more frequently, instead he's shoved into the centres or played as a hard running SR forward.
John's not WC? his skillset is far beyond that of many NRL back rowers of a similar age, an international regular all at the age of 24.
He is one of the few WC players we have a SL.
