The best bit of rugby news in weeks.

Welcome back to the squad, John

Best wishes to yourself and family in the future.

Steph says we lack a line breaking second rower though. I must’ve been imagining all those breaks Liam Farrell keeps making or the try’s he keeps scoring. I’m sure Bateman will chip in with a break or two as well considering he’s a World Class player.


11-Bateman
12-Farrell
13-Smithies

14-Isa

Or

11-Isa
12-Farrell
13-Bateman

14-Smithies

Either way round looks fantastic to me and there won’t be any better across the league.

Great to have him back as he's a genuine world class player. Let's not beat around the bush if he was Australian he'd playing Origin. There's not many players at that level knocking around and we've got one.

Also a little sad that this probably means the end of Hastings at Wigan too. I would have loved to have seen him at Wigan for a couple of seasons and really established himself with the likes of French, ZH and now Bateman too.

This is the only negative I see in the whole signing. I love John and happy to see him back.

But... I’d assume Hastings is leaving, and we won’t be signing a player of his quality to replace him. This undoubtedly means halves of a lower quality next season.

Absolutely delighted with this news. Bateman is a one off. At only 26 years old I have him right up there with Betts as the best second rower I've seen at the club. Stunning work IL and KR well done. Almost certainly means Hastings will probably be going to Canterbury and my god they need him but hey ho. 5 probable years of stability in one position with a world class player is a switch I am happy with. Amazing that I don't fear losing hastings as good as he is but that 'will he, won't he' will be hanging around all his time here and has already. Love him to stay but doubtful now. I would imagine Tommy will do another year and Smith is fast tracked into the halves. I will take that. Our squad is in a good place for next year. J. Burgess almost certainly gone now to accommodate it but we have Bibby for cover. So just Greenwood to move on now and we are in a good place. Happy fan

It’ll be sad to see Hastings go but you sense there will always be huge speculation surrounding him and it makes it difficult to plan long term when you’re main creative player always seems to be on the verge of leaving. We get Bateman back long term and with little risk of losing him again before his contract is up, so you get stability with one high earner. Totally different positions but on balance, I think I’d rather spend the money on Bateman.

We’re assuming Hastings definitely goes and he may not but if he does then they’ll need to look at what they can do. If it financially had to be that Leuluai and Harry Smith are paired then so be it, we cannot have it all ways but hopefully we’ll have the finance to bring somebody in.

Fantastic news. Very important for the club also, having a player like him just boosts everyone on and off the pitch.

Can’t wait to see him back on the field although I will be nervous watching him in a Canberra shirt and seeing how that shoulder holds up.

Great signing, well done IL & KR.

As to affording him, Flower going, Lockers retiring, likely Greenwood to Leeds then Bateman can be afforded.
Should Hastings go then and Tommy retires then another hb signing could be made. We have been linked with Benji Marshall. Harry Smith can be given game time this year and the 7 shirt 2021. Marshall and Smith could be an outstanding hb partnership.
Never the less Bateman returning is excellent news.

Going to Salford

Why would you assume that?

I’ve seen nothing from Hastings himself about leaving,the only thing I’ve seen from his social media is the new house,the new pup,not the things I’d be buying if I was jetting off to warmer climes

It’s a shame as he had the potential to be a top winger. Maybe a change of surroundings will help reignite his career. One thing for sure is that the Joe Burgess that went to Australia wasn’t the same one that came back, sad really.

Yes fingers crossed it will kickstart him again and who knows we could see him back for a 3rd spell.

Big well done to IFL and Rads for making this happen. another example of our owner stumping up big money of his own to bring the very best players available to the club. Wont suit all the Lenagan bashers i am sure but just remember as you gaze across town the grass is not always greener. Thank you IFL.

Signed the best Second Rower in the world, whose a natural leader, on a 4 year deal.

Made up, we’re the envy of super league today.