John Bateman

[Tommy Smith]

Robbo has nurtured Sitili for years. He is a quality young player whose time has come. He also recently re-signed for a lot less than he could have gotten elsewhere.

The story of Sitili is a microcosm of the story of the Roosters success under Robbo.

Contrast that with John Bateman who has dogged Ricky & the Raiders who believed in him and gave him a great opportunity.

**** John Bateman.

Believe in Sitili who bleeds RWB.

[Johnny Tobin]

I don’t think we have any Moses players at the moment. Let’s keep it that way thanks.

[The Marshall]

Didn't know Aubs had said he was retiring

He is closer to retirement than not, he doesn’t want to be Ricko and go around one to many, all of sudden you can be a yard off the pace and never get it back. Anyway Bateman’s not for us his shoulder is stuffed and he will want premium salary. There will be another young bloke to bring through I hope.

[The Marshall]

I just don't rate him to fit in our team structure, so there a no

Exactly, I would rather have Cords, Crichton, Butcher or Stilli than Bateman. He has a suspect shoulder and a different style.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

No thanks.

Any player who shops himself around during gf week is a dog.

Well if he's a dog, he must be great then.

Sorry Salvo, but I'm campaigning to have the term "dog" removed from our lexicon as a derogative term. Never got it, but it is (strangely) fairly common usage.

[The Marshall]

I would never knock Aubbo, NEVER. But Bateman is a top line player, who plays centre or back row. So wash your eyes out and make a judgement based on his talent, not his agent. If we could get him for the rest of the season for say $350K, and then offer him $700K for a 3 or 4 year deal, I reckon he would take it.

So said the genius who thinks Benji Marshall would be a good buy as a hooker. The guy is a turnstile. Lucky you aren’t our recruitment manager.

[The Marshall]

I am with you mate. I reckon it would be a massive coup to give him $800K a year for 4 years to play 30 minutes off the bench. Did you ever stop and thing for a moment that a guy who is on pretty good coin but wants a massive deal would not be content to be a bench utility? Did you ever think that clubs don't make a player one of their highest couple players at the club when they would be coming off the bench? Did you ever realist that Batemen is a second rower and second rower only and both ours play 80 minutes a game? Where did you get the idea that Batemen is a utility player? Have you ever seen him play any position but second row? Did any of these things come to mind or was it just a little bit too hard for you?

Agree 100%

[stringaz]

Sitili is just fresh atm. Got the odd error in him. Collins was the same but has powered on.

I expect the same from sitili, he's an exciting player to watch when he gets it right.

Bateman is a no from me, he might be a good player but I wouldn't trade Angus for him. I actually don't like his style of play.

[Random Rooster]

One thing you're all missing- his manager has knocked back 750K a year upgrade from Canberra----and got told 900k a year is that starting bid....with clubs like bulldogs & Titans going ready to go above that price. We aren't talking about SBW here

In any event Nick wont deal with Batemans lebo manager.....so its not going to happen

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

One thing you're all missing- his manager has knocked back 750K a year upgrade from Canberra----and got told 900k a year is that starting bid....with clubs like bulldogs & Titans going ready to go above that price. We aren't talking about SBW here

In any event Nick wont deal with Batemans lebo manager.....so its not going to happen

Spot on. He will either be at the Tits or dogs by season's end

[The Skeez]

Well if he's a dog, he must be great then.

Sorry Salvo, but I'm campaigning to have the term "dog" removed from our lexicon as a derogative term. Never got it, but it is (strangely) fairly common usage.

Yeah, I agree Coat. The jive ‘dawg’ is a better usage. As is cat. Meow

[Chook Norris]

Agree with the thoughts that he has a different style of play. We like our backrowers as line runners. Bateman comes off as more of a broken play type of player. Loves crabbing around, unstructured and offloading. I think he would stifle our attack. Would be better value for money at other clubs

[BenCumminsIsACheat]

No thanks to the Dally M second rower of the year 2019. He's on$580 at Canberra, he's worth more than that. His contract gave him the option and Canberra gave him permission to test the market. He's not a dog, not a dope either. He would be a great asset to any team.

Isaac, is that you?

[Teddy]

We have 400k in the bank Friend( now more then ever) needs a new deal, Keary and Teddy need upgrades Toops also that 400k is going to our own not a farken mercenary 1 season wonder with one shoulder we have two perhaps three maybe even four elite second rowers who have been taught the Rooster way we don’t need him.

[NorfolkStreetKid]

Wow, if all you experts reckon Bateman would be a waste of money He must be great. Plenty of you didn't want SBW, Cronk, Keary, Maloney, Teddy, Angus, JWH etc before they came here. His shoulder is no good... Teddys knee was no good. Blah blah blah. I've said my piece so I guess we will have to wait and see.