Bateman has been linked with a move to Manly after a difficult couple of years at the Tigers.
England international John Bateman has attempted to shut down reports linking him with a move to Manly after making a bizarre admission about the Wests Tigers. Bateman did not enjoy the best start to his 2024 season for the struggling Tigers and was granted a a short-term loan to head back home and play for Sam Burgess’ Warrington after featuring in just 12 games for Benji Marshall’s NRL wooden spooners.
It led to speculation the former Dally M second rower of the year has fallen out of favour with Marshall and the Tigers, who signed the English workhorse on a deal worth a reported $800,000 per season. The Tigers certainly didn’t see much value from their back-rower in 2024 and News Corp reported this week that Anthony Seibold’s Sea Eagles had their sights set on a move for the Englishman.
Bateman says those links to Manly are news to him though and has attempted to knock the speculation on the head. But in doing so, the back-rower also admitted that he hasn’t spoken to anyone at the Tigers since he was sent on loan to Warrington earlier in the year – other than a recent text message from the club about when he’s due to report back for pre-season training.
Honestly mate, it’s news to me,” Bateman told NRL.com about reports linking him with Manly. “I’ve not spoke to anyone over there regarding the team and stuff like that. I’ve got two years left at Wests Tigers and I’m going back there. I’ve not even spoken to Wests Tigers since I left, to be fair. They just sent me a message saying [when] I’m due in. From there, I’m literally unsure about that stuff.”
Bateman’s admission about the Tigers is hardly overwhelming evidence that the club is keen to keep hold of the star for the remaining two years of his big-money contract. But any potential switch to the Sea Eagles would be dependent on whether Seibold’s side can fit him under their salary cap, and would probably involve the Tigers chipping in a chunk of his $800,000 per year salary.
John Bateman hasn’t spoken to Manly amid Sea Eagles links
Pressed on the likelihood of making a move to Manly in 2025 though, Bateman says has not spoken to anyone at the Sea Eagles and has been genuinely surprised by the speculation. “I don’t know where that came from,” Bateman added. “It is what it is. Like I said, I’m going back there (to the Tigers). So yeah, I’ll be spending my time with my family but after Christmas I’ll be back there.”
The England international says he does not pay attention to social media or busy himself reading rugby league news and only found out about the Manly links after receiving texts from friends and family. “I’m not usually on Twitter and stuff like that. I don’t follow any rugby league columns on Instagram so… I’ve had a few texts. I don’t where it came from, I don’t know who said it.”
Bateman has failed to hit the same heights in his two years with the Tigers as he did at Canberra, when he was named in the 2019 Dally M Team of the Year during his maiden season in the NRL. The England star’s time in the nation’s capital didn’t end under the best circumstances though and things seem to going a similar way at the Tigers.
John Bateman preparing for England Test against Samoa
For now though, Bateman’s focus is on his country and preparing for England’s Test against Samoa in Wigan on Sunday. The back-rower says he has no plans to wind down his international career anytime soon, with an Ashes series in 2025 and the 2026 World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea on the horizon.
I’m getting a bit older now and you don’t look too far ahead but there’s a World Cup in, what, two years and hopefully a tour against Australia,” he added. “It’s one step at a time but that is obviously an aim and a goal. I love playing for my country. I love being around them boys, I love coming into camp. It’s where I’ve been born and bred. I’ll always represent my country, even if they have to wheel me out on a wheelchair.”
