i'm glad its finally put to bed, good luck to him. wigan seem to have done some good business here, but i do agree i don't recall ever seeing a player leave but already sign on to return!!

hope it works out well for all parties in 2-3 years' time.

Massive loss for Wigan next year. By far your best player. Hope and expect he will go well in the NRL, if he can fill his frame out, that I'm sure Canberra will work on, he could be up with the best in the NRL.

Interesting concept of a pre-agreed marquee contract in 2 or 3 years time. Will we even have the marquee rule at that point? What if he takes to the NRL and the Aussie lifestyle like a duck to water and decides to settle full-time? What if he suffers a serious injury and he can no longer perform anywhere near marquee level?

Can't help but think that part of the deal is anything more than a agreement to agree and well all said and done not rally binding on either party.

The bit about being offered marquee status (and wages) now is not aligned with what general gossip within the game suggests.

Leaves one hell of a void for Wigan to fill. I think it could only realistically be done from the NRL with a marquee level signing. Throwing names like Isa and Paisley around in the press release is frightening from a Wigan's fan POV.

2 points
Just said on a text to a mate that the amount of Detail within the contract will be a Thousand times more intricate than what is in a 20 line press release.
I expect IFL & JB's Lawyers plus Canberra as well to have spent countless hours negotiating it and working over dozens of scenarios etc. (And one of the reasons why it will have taken so long for the Official release & Statement to be made).
I'm more than comfortable that whatever is within that detail will be in the Best interests of Wigan - i.e. on the flip side if he's busted etc. we won't be "Tied" to the deal.

As for it being worrying for Wigan about names like ISA/Paisley etc. whilst not mentioning that he also said Greenwood & Farrell, then I suspect it would be very difficult for Wigan to quote names of potential players that haven't officially signed
Now if he was mentioning Jack Hughes/Livett or Joe Philbin then I would be Worried

Disappointing to see him go but cant blame him.

What's the obsession with having to re-sign players who leave for the NRL?

This agreement is different as the PR is saying he will defiantly be back which isn't guaranteed at all. In 2 years time are the club budgeting for the return of Bateman as a Marquee signing or are they recruiting elsewhere?

Far too many variables to assume Bateman will be back in 2/3 years.

Knowing what a lawyer's hourly rate is that would have cost more than the transfer fee Wigan got to draft! For example how would you define how serious an injury would be to negate the deal? Just think for five minutes the infinite scenarios that could exist about that one point.

It will be nothing more than a gentleman's agreement well all is said and done. If it suits both parties at that point then it will happen.

The main issue I have is the club putting this out there means to me they are putting themselves in a hole. If he wants to come back and Wigan say no he could go to another SL team and if successful the club wont look good. On the otherhand they could get him back down the line and then he isn't the player he was and isn't as successful to which again the club would get criticism.

I think it would of been better just to announce he was leaving and made no reference to him returning. At worst maybe they could of said Wigan have first refusal.

What if he's very successful in the NRL and doesn't want to come home, Will Canberra or another club need to renegotiate his signing with Wigan

It will be detailed in the contract that Doesn't exist and is no more than a Gentleman's agreement according to our Expert from the Wolf's Board.

My Guess however is it will be detailed in a Contract that will have numerous clauses/scenarios in it to cover numerous scenarios that won't be as complicated as some make out.

As predicted!

If his successful @ Canberra I see him then looking to go to Sydney.

FINALLY!

But I just don’t understand this deal. It doesn’t make sense from any way you look at it. In 2yrs we’ll be a different club with different needs etc

Im also not an advocate of bringing players back to the club and although I think Bateman is a fantastic player; I’m standing by that ethos. It makes the club look weak in my honest opinion.