Number 16 1,508 Report post Posted July 4, 2020 Wigan. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eddie 3,464 Report post Posted July 4, 2020 I thought you were joking! Great news for SL!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cheshire Setter 1,275 Report post Posted July 4, 2020 Wasn’t this in the news yesterday? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DavidM 10,125 Report post Posted July 4, 2020 Reading his statement , and how family and Wigan played such a big part ... is the contact situation a smokescreen ? What if Canberra had given him what he wanted , and what other NRL clubs could probably have given him ? Was he coming home anyway . It’s a bit contradictory Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bedfordshire Bronco 1,713 Report post Posted July 4, 2020 35 minutes ago, Cheshire Setter said: Wasn’t this in the news yesterday? Yep Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bedfordshire Bronco 1,713 Report post Posted July 4, 2020 3 minutes ago, DavidM said: Reading his statement , and how family and Wigan played such a big part ... is the contact situation a smokescreen ? What if Canberra had given him what he wanted , and what other NRL clubs could probably have given him ? Was he coming home anyway . It’s a bit contradictory I don't think so. From what I've heard he was offered something from Canberra (700 or so) said he wanted 900 so turned it down. Couldn't get 900 elsewhere so went back to Canberra who said it is now 600 Have to say, for our World Cup hopes I was hoping he would stay out there! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damien 11,626 Report post Posted July 4, 2020 2 hours ago, Cheshire Setter said: Wasn’t this in the news yesterday? Yes: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bamfordsbeans 381 Report post Posted July 4, 2020 I would imagine he will take a massive pay cut. Despite the marquee signings,only Widdop is paid over £150k a year. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jao 711 29 Report post Posted July 5, 2020 On 04/07/2020 at 11:30, bamfordsbeans said: I would imagine he will take a massive pay cut. Despite the marquee signings,only Widdop is paid over £150k a year. Are you privy to all those contracts? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dunbar 9,368 Report post Posted July 5, 2020 On 04/07/2020 at 11:30, bamfordsbeans said: I would imagine he will take a massive pay cut. Despite the marquee signings,only Widdop is paid over £150k a year. Unless we count the £2.6M a year that Sonny Bill Williams is paid. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeadShotKeen 192 Report post Posted July 6, 2020 If it's family reasons then that's hard to criticise or overturn but if not he's utterly mad to walk away from the Raiders just as they're building something really special. He doesn't seem to have conducted himself very well during the process, for sure. I have a feeling he'll come to regret the decision. Surely bossing a Super League with maybe 4 quality sides at best (which he's already done anyway) wouldn't get anywhere near being a pivotal part of a drought-ending unit in a much tougher and more high profile competition? A shame for the English game in general, I think. Until we somehow manage to get a strong, well-balanced and progressive comp over here we need our best players plying their trade in NRL. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Kevin Sinfield 2,033 Report post Posted July 7, 2020 Wigan have paid over the odds for Bateman at £300k a year. He’s not good enough to be a marquee player, he was over hyped in the NRL last year as the Aussies had never heard of him and thought a half decent player had come out of nowhere. 1 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeadShotKeen 192 Report post Posted July 7, 2020 12 hours ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said: Wigan have paid over the odds for Bateman at £300k a year. He’s not good enough to be a marquee player, he was over hyped in the NRL last year as the Aussies had never heard of him and thought a half decent player had come out of nowhere. Ah come on, he won Dally M 2nd rower of the year in his first NRL season. He absolutely smashed it. Amazing leg drive in the tackle and frequently had players hanging off him. What always surprised me about him was that his conditioning never looked that great. He wasn't chubby but certainly not muscular either. To the naked eye it seemed weird where he got his power from. I've just realised I'm making a good case for him being a drugs cheat ha ha ha! I'm being facetious obviously. He was without a doubt the best 2nd rower in NRL last year for my money. Clearly he's a huge loss to the Raiders but I just think he's making a poor career choice. Will be interesting to see if he comes back for the Raiders before he exits. As good a player as he is, my instinct is that his move and the way it has been conducted will have soured him amongst his teammates and he'll be left out in the cold. Hope I'm wrong though as it would be good to see him exit NRL properly and tbh I think he owes the Raiders a little also. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Ting 387 Report post Posted July 7, 2020 2 hours ago, DeadShotKeen said: Ah come on, he won Dally M 2nd rower of the year in his first NRL season. He absolutely smashed it. Amazing leg drive in the tackle and frequently had players hanging off him. What always surprised me about him was that his conditioning never looked that great. He wasn't chubby but certainly not muscular either. To the naked eye it seemed weird where he got his power from. I've just realised I'm making a good case for him being a drugs cheat ha ha ha! I'm being facetious obviously. He was without a doubt the best 2nd rower in NRL last year for my money. Clearly he's a huge loss to the Raiders but I just think he's making a poor career choice. Will be interesting to see if he comes back for the Raiders before he exits. As good a player as he is, my instinct is that his move and the way it has been conducted will have soured him amongst his teammates and he'll be left out in the cold. Hope I'm wrong though as it would be good to see him exit NRL properly and tbh I think he owes the Raiders a little also. Does conditioning have to look great? Perhaps he has freakish power that isn't apparent. Quote Learn to listen without distortion and learn to look without imagination. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites