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Another example of someone returning from Aus to Wigan and not living up to previous form at the club and NRL.

His left shoulder was heavily strapped before the game - is he carrying an injury?

He changed the way he plays, instead of legs pumping to make metres he us looking for the offload.

Bateman has never looked as flashes as farrel he doesn't have the speed but I'm willing to give him longer to adapt to the new style.

josie andrews wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 9:08 pm

nathan_rugby wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 8:54 pm

The booze hound wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 7:30 pm

He's doing well. Not at his best yet but still giving 100%. I think when he gets a run of games in his best position it'll start to click for him.

Hasn’t he played second row for 90% of this season so far?

Probably had 2/3 very good games, a few good, a few bad and a few terrible.

That isn’t worthy of marquee money, especially when you consider he wasn’t better than “good” last year.

And he definitely shouldn’t be wearing the 13 shirt!! Not worthy of that number considering the players who’ve worn it in the past!!

Who would you suggest is "worthy" of the 13 shirt?

The booze hound wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 1:27 pm

josie andrews wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 9:08 pm

nathan_rugby wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 8:54 pm

Hasn’t he played second row for 90% of this season so far?

Probably had 2/3 very good games, a few good, a few bad and a few terrible.

That isn’t worthy of marquee money, especially when you consider he wasn’t better than “good” last year.

And he definitely shouldn’t be wearing the 13 shirt!! Not worthy of that number considering the players who’ve worn it in the past!!

Who would you suggest is "worthy" of the 13 shirt?

Put Powell there, Will solve all our Hooking problems and arguments related to his lack of Hooking skills

medlocke wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 1:41 pm

The booze hound wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 1:27 pm

josie andrews wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 9:08 pm

And he definitely shouldn’t be wearing the 13 shirt!! Not worthy of that number considering the players who’ve worn it in the past!!

Who would you suggest is "worthy" of the 13 shirt?

Put Powell there, Will solve all our Hooking problems and arguments related to his lack of Hooking skills

Yeah but we’d just go on about he’s not a good loose forward then!

The booze hound wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 1:27 pm

josie andrews wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 9:08 pm

nathan_rugby wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 8:54 pm

Hasn’t he played second row for 90% of this season so far?

Probably had 2/3 very good games, a few good, a few bad and a few terrible.

That isn’t worthy of marquee money, especially when you consider he wasn’t better than “good” last year.

And he definitely shouldn’t be wearing the 13 shirt!! Not worthy of that number considering the players who’ve worn it in the past!!

Who would you suggest is "worthy" of the 13 shirt?

No one just yet or I’d have given it to Faz but he’s 12 & happy with that

medlocke wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 1:41 pm

The booze hound wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 1:27 pm

josie andrews wrote: ↑Mon May 09, 2022 9:08 pm

And he definitely shouldn’t be wearing the 13 shirt!! Not worthy of that number considering the players who’ve worn it in the past!!

Who would you suggest is "worthy" of the 13 shirt?

Put Powell there, Will solve all our Hooking problems and arguments related to his lack of Hooking skills

Solve one problem and create another?

Everyone would moan about his lack of attack, meter’s, carries, offloads etc.

I like having someone like Smithies at 13. He can run, he can defend, he can play big minutes and he is capable of a pass here and there.

Squad numbers don’t really matter but you’d imagine they’ll be re-jigged next year and Bateman will go to 11 and Smithies will get the 13 shirt. I think Smithies has really earned that shirt now.

NICKYKISS wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 4:34 pm Squad numbers don’t really matter but you’d imagine they’ll be re-jigged next year and Bateman will go to 11 and Smithies will get the 13 shirt. I think Smithies has really earned that shirt now.

More so than Bateman IMO

josie andrews wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 5:08 pm

NICKYKISS wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 4:34 pm Squad numbers don’t really matter but you’d imagine they’ll be re-jigged next year and Bateman will go to 11 and Smithies will get the 13 shirt. I think Smithies has really earned that shirt now.

More so than Bateman IMO

It’s been a strange move all round really. We signed him back, give him the 13 shirt, said he’d play at loose forward and have proceeded to play him at right second row pretty much ever since.

I’m pretty happy with how Bateman is going this season in the main but I would change his squad number next season.