Batemans's departure confirmed

[Charriots Offiah]

I'm not concerned with post mortems, but this is a get-out-of-jail card for Wigan. Batty has been ok for us, but not worth marquee money. We get shut and pocket £150k or thereabouts.

Secondly, there's no immediate need to panic about a replacement. We have KPP for this year with Isa as solid cover, so we can take a year for succession planning.

I'd hope we use the cap space to make a quality signing, maybe a prop, or (dare I say it) a 9 to give the moaners' club a rest?

Succession planning is key but, unfortunately, we don’t appear to be good at it.

[fozzieskem]

I'm not concerned with post mortems, but this is a get-out-of-jail card for Wigan. Batty has been ok for us, but not worth marquee money. We get shut and pocket £150k or thereabouts.

Secondly, there's no immediate need to panic about a replacement. We have KPP for this year with Isa as solid cover, so we can take a year for succession planning.

I'd hope we use the cap space to make a quality signing, maybe a prop, or (dare I say it) a 9 to give the moaners' club a rest?

Succession planning is key but, unfortunately, we don’t appear to be good at it.

Agreed there doesn't seem to be a long term and coherent plan at Wigan at times

[fozzieskem]

He was still under contract at Canberra when he returned to Wigan.

Hadn’t Canberra already told him he wasn’t staying at the club?

He signed a three year contract. Bateman was in the 'dream' team so I am sure many clubs would have been interested in him.

Yea he was after more money,they said no go and he was shipped about by his agent next thing he was coming back that's as I recall the way of it with covid providing the cover of saving face.

[josie andrews]

I'm not concerned with post mortems, but this is a get-out-of-jail card for Wigan. Batty has been ok for us, but not worth marquee money. We get shut and pocket £150k or thereabouts.

Secondly, there's no immediate need to panic about a replacement. We have KPP for this year with Isa as solid cover, so we can take a year for succession planning.

I'd hope we use the cap space to make a quality signing, maybe a prop, or (dare I say it) a 9 to give the moaners' club a rest?

We’ve got young Brad O’Neill & an even younger Tom Forber in the wings

Just hope Smithies is rewarded with the 13 shirt he deserves it & is a loose forward. Thought he would have got it when Lockers retired, but it was wasted on a second rower who didn’t deserve it IMO

[ian.birchall]

I think as soon as him & his partner had the baby boy together it was on the cards he would go back. She has been back for quite a while.

Bateman, IMO, hasn’t been as interested in being at Wigan or for England since he came back & didn’t display his potential from when he was here before or in the NRL.

Plus, throwing in marquee money for 4 years, how much is marquee in Oz?

Saw on red button text or elsewhere that the salary cap in Oz from the beginning of the next season is £6million+ or 3x Superleague salary cap which explains why they can attract the best players from around the world.

[Blackpool_Pie]

I think as soon as him & his partner had the baby boy together it was on the cards he would go back. She has been back for quite a while.

Bateman, IMO, hasn’t been as interested in being at Wigan or for England since he came back & didn’t display his potential from when he was here before or in the NRL.

Plus, throwing in marquee money for 4 years, how much is marquee in Oz?

Saw on red button text or elsewhere that the salary cap in Oz from the beginning of the next season is £6million+ or 3x Superleague salary cap which explains why they can attract the best players from around the world.

Plus John Bateman

[The Pearl1]

I said all along he wasn’t worth marquee money & was questioned "why do you not like Bateman"?

It wasn’t based on like or dislike, he just didn’t do it for me. He never made me jump up out of my seat to see what he could do, unlike French Field or Marshall!

They are more deserving of marquee than some second rower like Bateman, maybe in his first stint.

I’d sooner have given it to Farrell, as a second row player, who excites, as the backs above do, when they get the ball.

Plus, he was never deserving of the 13 shirt after all the excellent players who have worn that shirt before for Wigan Warriors

I thought you didnt like him because he doesn’t give you “cuddles and kisses”

[Barney841]

Think Wigan have had a lucky escape here with Bateman leaving.
Marquee signing or at least a big wage off the bill, when he hasn’t been anywhere near that since he’s comeback.
Been a solid player at best since he’s come back

[Charriots Offiah]

I'm not concerned with post mortems, but this is a get-out-of-jail card for Wigan. Batty has been ok for us, but not worth marquee money. We get shut and pocket £150k or thereabouts.

Secondly, there's no immediate need to panic about a replacement. We have KPP for this year with Isa as solid cover, so we can take a year for succession planning.

I'd hope we use the cap space to make a quality signing, maybe a prop, or (dare I say it) a 9 to give the moaners' club a rest?

We’ve got young Brad O’Neill & an even younger Tom Forber in the wings

Just hope Smithies is rewarded with the 13 shirt he deserves it & is a loose forward. Thought he would have got it when Lockers retired, but it was wasted on a second rower who didn’t deserve it IMO

Brad could turn out to be a good loose forward.

[Barney841]

I'm not concerned with post mortems, but this is a get-out-of-jail card for Wigan. Batty has been ok for us, but not worth marquee money. We get shut and pocket £150k or thereabouts.

Secondly, there's no immediate need to panic about a replacement. We have KPP for this year with Isa as solid cover, so we can take a year for succession planning.

I'd hope we use the cap space to make a quality signing, maybe a prop, or (dare I say it) a 9 to give the moaners' club a rest?

We’ve got young Brad O’Neill & an even younger Tom Forber in the wings

Just hope Smithies is rewarded with the 13 shirt he deserves it & is a loose forward. Thought he would have got it when Lockers retired, but it was wasted on a second rower who didn’t deserve it IMO

Brad could turn out to be a good loose forward.

Why play someone out of position when they should be playing their original position in the first place