Raiders star Bateman permitted to talk to other clubs after $800k demand
Posted: Fri May 22, 2020 9:46 am
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Canberra Raiders have been forced into giving English international John Bateman permission to test his value on the NRL open market with rival clubs.
The development comes after Fox Sports revealed the Dally M backrower of the year’s management has asked the Raiders for a release on at least four occasions since the grand final.
Bateman, believed to be on a deal worth around $580,000 a season, has been pushing for a contract upgrade worth upwards of the $800,000 mark.
Fox Sports has learned of the story through rival NRL clubs who were surprised when Bateman’s name was mentioned as being available despite being contracted to the Raiders until the end of 2021.
Bateman, 26, is contracted to the Green Machine until the end of 2021 and is currently recovering from shoulder surgery.
The Raiders rejected the repeated release requests over summer and will maintain the England forward has a contract in the national capital until the end of 2021.
But persistent agitating from Bateman’s new agent, Isaac Moses, has forced the club to allow the Dally M backrower of the year to test his value with rival clubs.
The English backrower will be unavailable for the Raiders round three showdown with arch rivals Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park as the club’s medical staff continue to focus on correctly rehabilitating his shoulder.
Bateman initially began making noises about his contract situation in grand final week last year.
The contract debate came out of left field at the time.
The issues arose when Bateman switched managers from his English agent to the Australian-based Moses.
There was a suggestion at the time Bateman had a get-out clause – but this is not the case.
Bateman has been shopped to rival clubs ever since.
Moses is one of the highest profile agents in the game.
When contacted by Fox Sports Moses denied he had asked for a release, saying: “You’re wrong. You’ll see the full story.”
Fox Sports stands by the story and has since learned the Raiders have been forced to give Bateman permission to look around.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 4ef50e4453
Canberra Raiders have been forced into giving English international John Bateman permission to test his value on the NRL open market with rival clubs.
The development comes after Fox Sports revealed the Dally M backrower of the year’s management has asked the Raiders for a release on at least four occasions since the grand final.
Bateman, believed to be on a deal worth around $580,000 a season, has been pushing for a contract upgrade worth upwards of the $800,000 mark.
Fox Sports has learned of the story through rival NRL clubs who were surprised when Bateman’s name was mentioned as being available despite being contracted to the Raiders until the end of 2021.
Bateman, 26, is contracted to the Green Machine until the end of 2021 and is currently recovering from shoulder surgery.
The Raiders rejected the repeated release requests over summer and will maintain the England forward has a contract in the national capital until the end of 2021.
But persistent agitating from Bateman’s new agent, Isaac Moses, has forced the club to allow the Dally M backrower of the year to test his value with rival clubs.
The English backrower will be unavailable for the Raiders round three showdown with arch rivals Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park as the club’s medical staff continue to focus on correctly rehabilitating his shoulder.
Bateman initially began making noises about his contract situation in grand final week last year.
The contract debate came out of left field at the time.
The issues arose when Bateman switched managers from his English agent to the Australian-based Moses.
There was a suggestion at the time Bateman had a get-out clause – but this is not the case.
Bateman has been shopped to rival clubs ever since.
Moses is one of the highest profile agents in the game.
When contacted by Fox Sports Moses denied he had asked for a release, saying: “You’re wrong. You’ll see the full story.”
Fox Sports stands by the story and has since learned the Raiders have been forced to give Bateman permission to look around.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 4ef50e4453