England calling: Bateman bales on Tigers … but he’ll be back next year
By Christian Nicolussi and Dan Walsh
Updated July 23, 2024 — 6.21pmfirst published July 21, 2024 — 12.36pm
John Bateman will not play for the Wests Tigers again this season after being granted a short-term release to play in the Super League.
Sources with knowledge of the situation not authorised to speak publicly confirmed to this masthead Bateman would return home to England as early as this week, but would fulfil the remaining two years of his NRL deal with the Tigers.
Bateman watched training on Tuesday with David Klemmer and Adam Doueihi, who were ruled out of Friday’s clash with the New Zealand Warriors. Klemmer has an ankle injury, while the Tigers are managing the load in Doueihi’s knee.
The 30-year-old Bateman has looked frustrated on the field most of this season because of the team’s form, while he has regularly spoken about missing family in the north of England. The Tigers are expected to save around $150,000 in their cap.
This masthead revealed in May that Tigers CEO Shane Richardson flew to England to seek expressions of interest from clubs about several players, including Bateman.
As Bateman heads to the other side of the world, another outgoing Tigers back-rower, Isaiah Papali’i – who will join premiers Pemrith next season – admitted he had struggled to live up to his hefty price tag.
Papali’i inked a three-year deal with the Panthers while overcoming an ankle injury, but knows Tigers fans have not seen the same brand of football that made him a fan favourite at Parramatta.
The New Zealand international was told he would not have his $750,000-a-year contract renewed beyond 2025, and Penrith needed only a few days to swoop.
“It’s tough to hear, but it’s pretty much fact,” said Papali’i, when asked about his form over the past 18 months at the Tigers. “It’s obvious we’re not getting results, but also not playing the footy I’ve become used to in Parra colours.
“[Losing] drains you a bit. We put in a lot of hard work on the field and in the gym … you’re judged on your performances every weekend, those haven’t been the best, and that’s why everyone sees the form slump.”
Meanwhile, Tigers players suggested drawn-out contract talks were partly to blame for Stefano Utoikamanu’s form slump. The club hope to receive a concrete answer on Utoikamanu’s next move by Wednesday.
The 24-year-old prop has met with Storm officials twice – and has a five-year $4m extension on the table from the Tigers – but struggled the past six weeks, especially in attack. Apart from one powerhouse performance against the Gold Coast at Leichhardt Oval, he has failed to run for 100m.
Tigers skipper Api Koroisau said the intense speculation about Utoikamanu’s next deal was bound to have an impact on him physically and mentally, and “contract stuff will affect anyone, regardless of who they are”.
“Stef is still trying to put his best foot forward,” Koroisau said. “I don’t think the games [are suiting] our middles. We’re giving away a lot of possession, making a lot of tackles, and putting our forwards on the back foot.”
The Panthers remain confident they will be the best-supported club in Las Vegas.
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