Canterbury Bulldogs offered John Bateman blank cheque to sign for them

[The Future is League]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why-blank-cheque-from-bulldogs-couldn-t-cure-bateman-s-homesick-blues-20201008-p5635j.html

[JohnM]

Interesting article well worth reading. At least we now know the reason is his homesickness. (or he's been emotionally blackmailed into it from people in England) 

In my opinion (and experience) he may well regret his decision in later life. 

Still it's his decision and I trust he will make it work. 

[Phil]

I know he has a young daughter here that he seems to be missing very much.

One of my few regrets in life is that Mrs Phil and I didn’t go to Oz when we had the chance, apart from the family angle I can’t understand why anyone would miss this country. 

[marklaspalmas]

If JB was handed a blank cheque, why didn't he fill it in for 600 million quid?

Am I missing something?

[DavidM]

Quite an illuminating article . Ultimately for all the attractions of the NRL if that’s how he feels then no one can argue , it’s his personal feelings and decision . I like his mentality about losing finals and medals , and I hope he gets a premiership ring before he leaves . He’s a winner this guy 

[Rupert Prince]

2 hours ago, DavidM said:

Quite an illuminating article . Ultimately for all the attractions of the NRL if that’s how he feels then no one can argue , it’s his personal feelings and decision . I like his mentality about losing finals and medals , and I hope he gets a premiership ring before he leaves . He’s a winner this guy 

Yes.  But he will be paid well for Wigan.  Being selfish i am sorry he went to Australia in the first place.  I suppose Australia has its attractions, it's unfortunate that it's full of Australians!

I hope he stays fit and plays well, not just for Wigan but England.  And it would be nice if the wider UK gave him the credit he deserves... along with a few other world class players that we have.

[Davo5]

Putting family before personal gain,can’t fault the lad.

[EastLondonMike]

Luckily for John Bateman time is on his side, nothing to say he couldn't have two good years back at Wigan then head back to the NRL at 28. Maybe he wont command the same salary he could have with this next contract but he'll still be able to earn a pretty decent living and provide for his family.

Will be great to see him back in SL next season, but equally it will be a bit sad to not see him tearing it up again in the NRL.

[Eddie]

1 hour ago, Phil said:

 apart from the family angle I can’t understand why anyone would miss this country. 

Depends where you live I suppose but this country has a lot going for it, shame so many people choose to rubbish it so readily. 

[BrisbaneRhino]

Australia is a lovely place to live in lots of ways, but missing family and friends is huge. I read somewhere that something like 30% of Brits who supposedly emigrate to Australia end up returning home.  If it wasn't for kids etc I'd move back tomorrow.  I get the weather, standard of living etc but I've been here over 20 years and still think of England as 'home'.   

[barnyia]

I wonder if the rugby mad yorkshire family who where on wanted down under a few years ago stayed long , I think they chose to stay they had two boys around 12/14 years old. 

[Dunbar]

3 hours ago, EastLondonMike said:

Luckily for John Bateman time is on his side, nothing to say he couldn't have two good years back at Wigan then head back to the NRL at 28. Maybe he wont command the same salary he could have with this next contract but he'll still be able to earn a pretty decent living and provide for his family.

Will be great to see him back in SL next season, but equally it will be a bit sad to not see him tearing it up again in the NRL.

I agree with the overall sentiment but Bateman has already turned 27 so he would be 29 if he went back the the NRL after 2 years at Wigan.  Not to say he still wouldn't be world class at that point though as 29 is not over the hill by any means.

I would be happy if top quality players moved between comps as I love watching the Brits mix it up in the NRL.

[Rupert Prince]

17 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I agree with the overall sentiment but Bateman has already turned 27 so he would be 29 if he went back the the NRL after 2 years at Wigan.  Not to say he still wouldn't be world class at that point though as 29 is not over the hill by any means.

I would be happy if top quality players moved between comps as I love watching the Brits mix it up in the NRL.

I thought he had signed for Wigan for 4 years?   Would he not need a fee after 2 years? 

[Dunbar]

1 minute ago, Rupert Prince said:

I thought he had signed for Wigan for 4 years?   Would he not need a fee after 2 years? 

He would. I was just replying to a post that said he was still young enough to go back to the NRL after 2 years.

[Rupert Prince]

1 minute ago, Dunbar said:

He would. I was just replying to a post that said he was still young enough to go back to the NRL after 2 years.

Yes, I was aware of the earlier post.

[Copa]

3 hours ago, BrisbaneRhino said:

Australia is a lovely place to live in lots of ways, but missing family and friends is huge. I read somewhere that something like 30% of Brits who supposedly emigrate to Australia end up returning home.  If it wasn't for kids etc I'd move back tomorrow.  I get the weather, standard of living etc but I've been here over 20 years and still think of England as 'home'.   

If it was 30% there’d be millions returning.

[JohnM]

Each to his own decision. Homesickness can be  a terrible sensation and emotion. I speak from experience. Watching "Wanted down under" though, it really angers me the way that friends and family of the subject pull at the heartstrings of the subject to try to stop them going. 

I  also speak from experience of returning early from a job  as a young man from abroad many many years ago, a decision I still regret. Sure, I've done ok by returning here in1973 and I've tried to do the best for my family. 

In my opinion, it's the duty and obligation of the family to ensure that their offspring take advantage of the opportunities life presents. I've said to my kids that they must put their futures and that of their  offspring first and if that entails moving to the other side of the world, then I'll support them in that.  If they think their future lies in the UK, then fine.

So, Bateman has made up his mind to return and it is now up to him to  do the best for him, his girlfriend and his daughter.

I'm sure, as a Wigan and England fan, I'm going to see the best of him as a player, though

[frank]

18 hours ago, Phil said:

I know he has a young daughter here that he seems to be missing very much.

One of my few regrets in life is that Mrs Phil and I didn’t go to Oz when we had the chance, apart from the family angle I can’t understand why anyone would miss this country. 

That's because you have never lived overseas.

[dkw]

Should have wrote on it "sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads

[JohnM]

I've had my say on the Bateman situation (almost).  I've watched him in action both here and in the NRL and trust that his form continues and that he rapidly becomes the leader that Wigan so desperately need.

My closing remark on this topic is that I trust the lessons are learned so that any player who moves to the NRL (and the club he moves to) is given the necessary support to make the move as successful off the pitch as it can be on the pitch.

George Williams, hang on in there! 🖒

[Adelaide Tiger]

On 09/10/2020 at 01:54, barnyia said:

I wonder if the rugby mad yorkshire family who where on wanted down under a few years ago stayed long , I think they chose to stay they had two boys around 12/14 years old. 

A lad from Castleford called Darryl with whom I played football with for many years was on Wanted Down Under about 4/5 years ago.  So that might be who you are on about.

Him and his family live on the outskirts of Melbourne and still follow Cas Tigers, plus Richmond Tigers in Oz.  They appear to be settled and love the lifestyle.

[RidingPie]

Well your kids are only young once, and speaking as someone who mostly missed the first two years of my eldest sons life because I was working away, I applaud his decision. I’ve made sure with the later two children I was closer to home and even after the pay cut, it was well worth it. 

[wackojacko]

Australia seems perfectly nice in many respects but putting that above being able to spend time with your young daughter seems like a poor decision you would only live to regret, for me in any case. Very much looking forward to having him back at Wigan, I'm sure he won't be wanting for money.

[GUBRATS]

We emigrated to NZ in 1975 

3 years later I returned home on my own aged 17 

A year later my parents followed me 

My brother remained in NZ 

Since then he's returned home once for a grandparents funeral and I've been out there 3 times , the last time 17 years ago 

Difficult decisions 

[DoubleD]

Who still uses cheques in this day and age?