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Bateman - can he do any wrong


Lowdesert

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Bateman is going great.

While his work with ball in hand is impressive, it's his defence that is just as important. He seals up the Raidere right edge while Whitehead does the same on the left.

Interesting stat from the commentators this morning. Just once in the last 20 years has the NRL premier not kept an opposing team scoreless in the regular season.

And the only team to keep the opposition scoreless this year... the Raiders, who have done it three times.

Defence wins games yes but keeping a team scoreless is an attitude and the Raiders have bags of it this year. Definitely my favourite team to watch in the NRL.

"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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1 hour ago, Lowdesert said:

What a season hes having. Scored the winner v Storm today and just continues to impress week upon week.  

But he's never a Centre ?

Too small for a forward. Too slow for a back. Never passes the ball ever. Played for Wigan. A guaranteed flop in the NRL. He'll be lucky to get a reserve-grade spot.

Oh, hang on... :kolobok_biggrin:

Seriously, he laid out his stall from game 1, and is thoroughly enjoying the big part he has played in a remarkable team performance this year.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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11 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

Too small for a forward. Too slow for a back. Never passes the ball ever. Played for Wigan. A guaranteed flop in the NRL. He'll be lucky to get a reserve-grade spot.

Oh, hang on... :kolobok_biggrin:

Seriously, he laid out his stall from game 1, and is thoroughly enjoying the big part he has played in a remarkable team performance this year.

The few games I've watched, the opposition can do nothing with him.  I keep waiting for him to get held up and clattered but he slips the tackle.

Chipping through, offloads, hes doing it all.  A few English lads there is obviously benefiting all of them.  Great to see.

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He's 8th favourite for the Dally M after missing quite a few games due to a fractured eye socket, he was ruled out for 8 weeks due to that but I'm pretty sure he came back after 4. Just goes to show how impressive he has been. 

 

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The only game I saw him perhaps struggling to contain his opposite was against Viliame Kikau in the game he got injured.

At 6'4" and 19st Kikau is probably the biggest edge forward in the competition.  I would love to have seen that battle unfold over the 80 minutes and see if Bateman's tenacity and engine won out (Kikau wasn't playing in the return fixture later in the year).

"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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37 minutes ago, RSN said:

He's 8th favourite for the Dally M after missing quite a few games due to a fractured eye socket, he was ruled out for 8 weeks due to that but I'm pretty sure he came back after 4. Just goes to show how impressive he has been. 

 

Amazing recovery.

His stats are amazing too, from today’s game.  Worth a look.

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I thought he might struggle in the pack in the nrl, but boy was I wrong. He's an outstanding player, I'm not sure there's been many who play so far above his weight. Be a ridiculous move if he's played at centre in the internationals. 

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1 hour ago, Dunbar said:

The only game I saw him perhaps struggling to contain his opposite was against Viliame Kikau in the game he got injured.

At 6'4" and 19st Kikau is probably the biggest edge forward in the competition.  I would love to have seen that battle unfold over the 80 minutes and see if Bateman's tenacity and engine won out (Kikau wasn't playing in the return fixture later in the year).

Yeah he certainly had got the better of Bateman before Bateman got injured. Bateman however is an 80 minute player with a phenomenal workrate where as Kikau is a different type of player completely.

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2 minutes ago, Damien said:

Yeah he certainly had got the better of Bateman before Bateman got injured. Bateman however is an 80 minute player with a phenomenal workrate where as Kikau is a different type of player completely.

Kikau's a fantastic talent, even at this early stage in his career. But I bet Bateman's going to have a few more goes at him in future.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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13 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

Kikau's a fantastic talent, even at this early stage in his career. But I bet Bateman's going to have a few more goes at him in future.

I will definitely look forward to that.

"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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48 minutes ago, Celt said:

It wouldn't have. (IMO).

For me, it is the inevitable step up in games like that, and of course INTERNATIONALS where Bateman will struggle. If you look across the Kangaroos or Tonga test backlines, you see big, strong, fast individuals across the park. Bateman is tiny (for a forward) and slow (for a back). Yes... He puts in an incredible shift. Yes... He has a ton of heart. And yes... I CGAF if England lose (and you are playing a fairly mediocre Kiwi group) 

But... If you are serious about being competitive at Test level, then pick the athletes who are capable of doing the job.

Against a guy the size of Kikau.... There is only one winner.

You talk as if Bateman is yet to play internationals. in reality he has played 16 times, including a 3 match series against NZ (2016) and a world cup including the final (2017). He has not struggled in any of these games as far as I’m aware.

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4 hours ago, Celt said:

That's why you never win though. (Obviously you beat the kiwis but i'm talking about the big games).

England does have an incredible habit of trucking out the most undersized backlines in international RL. They played that scrawny wee runt Kevin Brown in the world cup final FFS!!!!

Every time you play the kangaroos, you look just as big as them from 8-13, but your backline is so lacking in size and strength it is incredible.

 

NZ not big games? Typical Aussie arrogance, play us, that’s all we want you to do, play us in a series, what you hiding for? 

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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1 minute ago, Phil said:

NZ not big games? Typical Aussie arrogance, play us, that’s all we want you to do, play us in a series, what you hiding for? 

For the last few years the Australians have been very selective about exactly where and when they will play us, particularly when they are going through a rebuilding phase or when we are looking strong. This is done primarily to maintain their dominant record and it's a strategy they are extremely good at.

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Just now, Whippet13 said:

For the last few years the Australians have been very selective about exactly where and when they will play us, particularly when they are going through a rebuilding phase or when we are looking strong. This is done primarily to maintain their dominant record and it's a strategy they are extremely good at.

Or “running scared” as it’s known 

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice, socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality" - Mikhail Bakunin

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1 hour ago, Phil said:

NZ not big games? Typical Aussie arrogance, play us, that’s all we want you to do, play us in a series, what you hiding for? 

I think "Celt" may be from up there somehow.

Talent is secondary to whether players are confident.

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The one big difference to Canberra this year is Bateman.I have been a Raiders supporter since they started so have been through the highs & lows.I also follow the Super League & was delighted when Canberra signed Bateman. It’s been no coincidence that Wigan struggled without him early this year and couldn’t believe that this was overlooked by the so called experts in England.I am also mates with Mick Robinson ex Castleford/ Wakefield football manager who was of the belief that John in his words great player but to small to be a success in Oz which I strongly disagreed with and take great delight in ringing every couple of weeks to  hear him say yes I was right and he was wrong.People sometimes forget that the most important part of a footballer is what’s between their ears not there size - the guy is never beaten competes on everything hates being beaten  and they rub off the on everybody else around them and hence the improved resilience of the raiders 

 

 

 

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8 hours ago, Celt said:

It wouldn't have. (IMO).

For me, it is the inevitable step up in games like that, and of course INTERNATIONALS where Bateman will struggle. If you look across the Kangaroos or Tonga test backlines, you see big, strong, fast individuals across the park. Bateman is tiny (for a forward) and slow (for a back). Yes... He puts in an incredible shift. Yes... He has a ton of heart. And yes... I CGAF if England lose (and you are playing a fairly mediocre Kiwi group) 

But... If you are serious about being competitive at Test level, then pick the athletes who are capable of doing the job.

Against a guy the size of Kikau.... There is only one winner.

I'm looking forward to a Kikau inspired Penrith coming up against a Bateman inspired Canberra in the finals.

People called Romans they go the house

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