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Defector Bateman

Nutz

Bench
Messages
3,889
He won’t be back and thinking about it, I’d be surprised if Bennett would want him.
But he's still on our books.
The only thing I'm thinking of is he plays excellent footy back home to bump up his worth and Burgess takes over his contract. That's a lot of dosh for them to cough up though.
 

Nutz

Bench
Messages
3,889
I'd like to blame him but I think the club pushed him out. I reckon they tried to push him out of his whole contract but they stuffed it up so bad no one wants him for that coin.

I hope he doesn't come back.
If his excuse is that Benji is giving more kudos to the young lads rather than him or the other senior players then stuff him.
He has done little except give away stupid penalties and sin bins.
 
Messages
707
I reckon we'd be happy paying $300k a season over the next few years for him to play somewhere else.
I reckon if we push his buttons hard enough we can get out of his contract completely. That's why I think we've allowed him to go home. It's what we should be trying to do.

Let him enjoy himself back home for a couple of months and when his manager inevitably calls to talk turkey we put our foot down and say "nah mate, see ya Nov 1. And by the way you'll be playing in the middle, and you no longer have a sponsored car."

Let's see what unfolds. This will be a big test of Richo.
 

BrotherJim05

Bench
Messages
3,417
I can't help but think "what if" we didn't sack Madge. We would have kept Hastings, gotten rid of Brooks, never signed Bateman and by all reports signed Manu and A. Chrichton. Papli'i would have actually put in and we'd be a completely different team.

Anyway, whatever, another Sheenius signing on the way out the door.
 

Vic Mackey

Referee
Messages
25,056
Bateman always seemed like the dud signing to me. 4 years for a small forward, yuck. It pissed me off how he'd play the end of year tests, then not get back here til the end of January, completely taking the piss.
 

Nutz

Bench
Messages
3,889
I reckon if we push his buttons hard enough we can get out of his contract completely. That's why I think we've allowed him to go home. It's what we should be trying to do.

Let him enjoy himself back home for a couple of months and when his manager inevitably calls to talk turkey we put our foot down and say "nah mate, see ya Nov 1. And by the way you'll be playing in the middle, and you no longer have a sponsored car."

Let's see what unfolds. This will be a big test of Richo.
I don't think Richo will be intimidated :)
 

Wizardman

First Grade
Messages
9,011
I watched his game for Warrington. He looked a bit lost but that is to be expected. He ended up doing a lot of grunt work........certainly no loss so far.
In a funny way, we need him to play well to reduce the cost of letting him go.
 

Nutz

Bench
Messages
3,889
I reckon if we push his buttons hard enough we can get out of his contract completely. That's why I think we've allowed him to go home. It's what we should be trying to do.

Let him enjoy himself back home for a couple of months and when his manager inevitably calls to talk turkey we put our foot down and say "nah mate, see ya Nov 1. And by the way you'll be playing in the middle, and you no longer have a sponsored car."

Let's see what unfolds. This will be a big test of Richo.
He'd be the smallest middle in the comp so your plan sounds good :)
His latest rep efforts for England were outstanding. The only way he'll be staying over there is to play great footy so clubs line up to pay for him.
His age, price and length of contract are the stumbling blocks.
It's a lot of money for ESL clubs.
Do you know if we can get out of paying for him (sal cap) is he quits to stay in the dart? I imagine that the answer would be yes but do you think I can find a reference.....geez
 
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Tiger05

First Grade
Messages
9,346
He'd be the smallest middle in the comp so your plan sounds good :)
His latest rep efforts for England were outstanding. The only way he'll be staying over there is to play great footy so clubs line up to pay for him.
His age, price and length of contract are the stumbling blocks.
It's a lot of money for ESL clubs.
Do you know if we can get out of paying for him (sal cap) is he quits to stay in the dart? I imagine that the answer would be yes but do you think I can find a reference.....geez

I saw an article that he has been bad mouthing the club. Surely you can just sack him for that crap. It's unprofessional.
 

Nutz

Bench
Messages
3,889
I saw an article that he has been bad mouthing the club. Surely you can just sack him for that crap. It's unprofessional.
Yes it was in the Telegraph but I don't have a subscription. Probably hear about it on 360 tonight.
 
Messages
707
He'd be the smallest middle in the comp so your plan sounds good :)
His latest rep efforts for England were outstanding. The only way he'll be staying over there is to play great footy so clubs line up to pay for him.
His age, price and length of contract are the stumbling blocks.
It's a lot of money for ESL clubs.
Do you know if we can get out of paying for him (sal cap) is he quits to stay in the dart? I imagine that the answer would be yes but do you think I can find a reference.....geez
Absolutely you can get out of paying his future contract, as long as both parties agree to it.

That's why I think we should make it clear to him and his management there will be no easy road if he comes back and doesn't void his contract completely. If he wants to get money he'll be expected back to fulfil his contract and he'll be flogged like a government mule.

We need to make it clear he won't get to stay in the UK and get paid any money by us. This should then force his hand, as it's pretty clear he doesn't like being in Australia.
 
Messages
707
Contract law mate. If all the parties to a contract want to void it they can.

All this talk about having to pay out a certain amount and keep it on our cap is BS. Clubs only do this because it suits them more to get rid of the player and cop the financial and cap hit. You can certainly get out of a contract providing all parties agree to it.

Conversely, if we want a player to go, but they want to stay, and they're contracted, they have every right to stay. Similar to Sullivan. And if a player wants to go and we want them to stay, and they're contracted, they stay. Similar to the issue with Galvin, or his management.
 
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