Re: Canberra Raiders 'don't want to lose' homesick George Williams
Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 8:18 am
Who is leaking that?’: Bateman blasts Raiders, delivers Williams warning
John Bateman has called out unnamed Raiders officials for leaking information about internal problems and undermining the playing group.
Bateman left Canberra at the end of last season to instead play for Wigan in the Super League after helping inspire the Raiders to a preliminary final finish in 2020.
His absence has been pinpointed as one of the key factors in Canberra’s slide, with Ricky Stuart’s men currently sitting in 12th position and on a five-game losing run.
Winning can often be the cure for everything but the team is coming under growing scrutiny and examination as their fall down the ladder continues.
Already Josh Hodgson has stepped down from the co-captaincy a fortnight ago and there have been reports of potential approaches from rival clubs.
George Williams is also homesick while Joseph Tapine’s wife has taken aim at Stuart on social media.
Now Bateman has revealed to the Sydney Morning Heraldthat there were times during his playing career that he confronted Stuart over the belief that club officials were undermining the players.
“I don’t understand how you’re told to keep things internally but the next minute you’ve got [journalists] chatting about it within 24 hours of what’s been said at the club,” Bateman told the Herald.
“I had a conversation with Ricky before and he told me it wasn’t him. I asked him about my situation.
“I asked him where all these stories were coming from and he said, ‘I’m not too sure, it might be your management’. You’d love to know, wouldn’t you? You can get over it when it’s once. When it’s two or three times, you’re like, ‘Come on, what’s going on here?’
“You ask yourself, ‘Who is leaking that stuff out?”
Bateman has also urged the club to strongly consider releasing Williams, warning he will not perform to his potential if he does not want to stay.
“He wants to be somewhere else totally different. If he’s not happy, you’re not going to get the best out of him,” Bateman added.
He does though understand the business side of it and why Canberra would be reluctant to let him leave yet.
The Raiders released a statement on Williams last week, confirming that he is having issues with being separated from his family and friends in England.
“The Raiders will continue to offer George and his partner all the support they need, and George has confirmed he remains committed to the club,” the club added.
Williams had a try assist, linebreak assist and forced two dropouts on the weekend in a 24-16 defeat to the Knights.
As for Hodgson, the Raiders hooker also said he is “fully committed to the club”.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 416716f72e
John Bateman has called out unnamed Raiders officials for leaking information about internal problems and undermining the playing group.
Bateman left Canberra at the end of last season to instead play for Wigan in the Super League after helping inspire the Raiders to a preliminary final finish in 2020.
His absence has been pinpointed as one of the key factors in Canberra’s slide, with Ricky Stuart’s men currently sitting in 12th position and on a five-game losing run.
Winning can often be the cure for everything but the team is coming under growing scrutiny and examination as their fall down the ladder continues.
Already Josh Hodgson has stepped down from the co-captaincy a fortnight ago and there have been reports of potential approaches from rival clubs.
George Williams is also homesick while Joseph Tapine’s wife has taken aim at Stuart on social media.
Now Bateman has revealed to the Sydney Morning Heraldthat there were times during his playing career that he confronted Stuart over the belief that club officials were undermining the players.
“I don’t understand how you’re told to keep things internally but the next minute you’ve got [journalists] chatting about it within 24 hours of what’s been said at the club,” Bateman told the Herald.
“I had a conversation with Ricky before and he told me it wasn’t him. I asked him about my situation.
“I asked him where all these stories were coming from and he said, ‘I’m not too sure, it might be your management’. You’d love to know, wouldn’t you? You can get over it when it’s once. When it’s two or three times, you’re like, ‘Come on, what’s going on here?’
“You ask yourself, ‘Who is leaking that stuff out?”
Bateman has also urged the club to strongly consider releasing Williams, warning he will not perform to his potential if he does not want to stay.
“He wants to be somewhere else totally different. If he’s not happy, you’re not going to get the best out of him,” Bateman added.
He does though understand the business side of it and why Canberra would be reluctant to let him leave yet.
The Raiders released a statement on Williams last week, confirming that he is having issues with being separated from his family and friends in England.
“The Raiders will continue to offer George and his partner all the support they need, and George has confirmed he remains committed to the club,” the club added.
Williams had a try assist, linebreak assist and forced two dropouts on the weekend in a 24-16 defeat to the Knights.
As for Hodgson, the Raiders hooker also said he is “fully committed to the club”.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-pr ... 416716f72e