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He is train and trial, so not included in the squad count.
Ditto
I like it a lot. Keeping them on the field for most of the season and we are a massive chance of top 8.
Are you saying Simpkin can play hooker? If he can or not I definately want to see him get more time in first grade this year. So good with his quality offloads.
Wrong Simpkin/s me thinks.
But i agree, his offloads would suit Sheenious's style of play.
He’s played a lot of footy, at his age and with his knowledge of the game, I think some additional time off is probably going to help him rather than hinder him.‘Need to get him here first’: Visa issues leave star Tiger Bateman stranded in UK
By Christian Nicolussi
January 19, 2023 — 7.28pm
John Bateman remains stranded in the north of England because of visa issues, with the Wests Tigers hopeful – but not 100 per cent certain – of having their international recruit in the country by the time the new NRL season kicks off.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens said there were plenty of people working behind the scenes to fast-track Bateman’s paperwork, and that the back-rower had in the meantime been inundated with plenty of video footage of the club’s training sessions and set plays to study while back home.
Bateman needed a contract with the Tigers registered before he could officially apply for a working visa, only for the Christmas period to cause further delays to the process.
The 29-year-old Bateman and his Australian partner also have to apply for a visa for their newborn son.
Bateman, a former Canberra Raider who was only cut loose by Super League club Wigan once the Tigers paid a substantial transfer fee, joins David Klemmer, Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i and Charlie Staines under the new Sheens and Benji Marshall regime.
Because Bateman was involved in England’s World Cup campaign, Sheens said even if the forward had been in the country, he would not have started with the Tigers until a couple of weeks ago.
The Tigers’ first trial against the New Zealand Warriors kicks off in just three weeks’ time. The second, on February 18, is against Canberra where Bateman spent two seasons, including an appearance in the 2019 Grand Final loss to the Sydney Roosters.
“There have been a couple of issues with the visa, and the government [departments] in both countries shut down over Christmas, so that slowed us down [further],” Sheens told the Herald.
“We’re not putting a date on when he’ll be here. We’ve got immigration people and experts trying to sort it out.
“It’s a bit unusual, but he’s also not coming on his own.
“We wouldn’t use him in the first trial, but we’d aim to have him play in the second trial. We need to get him here first.”
Bateman has posted photos of himself working out back home in Bradford, and Sheens was confident the forward would make an immediate impact the moment he did arrive.
“He’s still doing plenty of weights and general fitness,” Sheens said.
“We’re sending him videos of our training sessions and plays, and I’m in constant touch with him – we’ll speak two or three times a week. He’s aware of everything we’re doing here.
“He’s just a quality back-rower, it’s as simple as that. He’s an international player with experience who adds to our young squad and a handful of very experienced players.”
Bateman’s four-year deal with the Tigers was made official on Boxing Day with the hard-nosed workhorse admitting he was impressed with the direction the club wanted to take.
Bateman, Papali’i and Klemmer, even Koroisau and the returning Shawn Blore play with an uncompromising and physical brand of football, something the Tigers pack has lacked in recent years.
“I can’t wait to begin a new chapter at a club that I know is going places,” Bateman said.
“There has been a lot of change at Wests Tigers over the past few months and everything I hear is positive. I want to be a part of the rebuild at the club and I’m really excited to be coming back to the NRL.”
‘Need to get him here first’: Visa issues leave star Tiger Bateman stranded in UK
There are just three weeks until the Wests Tigers’ first trial, but one of their star new recruits remains stranded in England because of visa issues.www.smh.com.au
www.weststigers.com.au
