John Bateman #268

bptiger 0 said:
After watching that game on the weekend, I think kepoea is way ahead of matamua , none are great ball players at this stage , but I was really taken with kepoea and his hard running and his work rate in defence, think he will push hard for
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Sorry , a top 17 spot
 
batboy said:
Speaking of 13...
That's where I'd like to see him.
Perfect build for the modern 13, Also wouldn't be the first Edge to move to the middle after a couple hundred games.
I think he can offer us something in the middle that we're missing...
Joe and Twal as Props only - Filling in if required....
But my 13's for 2023 would be Bateman and Pole....
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Something I saw on a podcast when discussing our 13 was that Bateman can be quite a disruptive presence to the halves if he's in the middle. He is so unpredictable and will run when and where you least expect it. He bounces around tacklers like a pinball. Can get you a great play-of-the-ball, but your attacking shape might be bent/wonky after his run.

A good trait to have, whether or not it would suit our team, personally I think it would be great. Brooks and Doueihi are better off-the-cuff players than working too much within structure.
 
Kelce68 said:
I think that's a good point. Playing big minutes in the middle, into your thirties, is hard to do.

I'm also ignorant on his passing ability. He doesn't carry a tag of having poor hands by any means, but the accuracy and pass selection and particularly the the ability to do so whilst in motion, is a key component of the modern, linking 13 role. I'm not sure whether he has, or hasn't got that in his arsenal.

Whereas the likes of Pole, Matamua or even a Fainu seem to, or at least, seem to have the capacity to further develop their ability to, be strong in this area.

I think a strong passer and pass selector as a modern 13 is a key aspect when choosing one. You could almost liken it to a 5/8th-type, but playing in the middle.
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Bateman is a decent ball player and a good offloaded for his size, but I'm unsure how he would good at 13, I'm sure he would be fine without being great.

Can't comment on Fainu, really haven't seen him play much.

Pole is a beast, I would be fine with him playing 13 and rotating through the front row/bench, guy looks like he can really go all day.

But my pick in terms of ball playing is Matamua, his technique is very very good. I know quite a few passes went to ground in the trials but I think that is to be expected from a young fella in a trial. He carries the ball in two hands naturally, got great footwork at the line and his short passing game is very silky. If you watch the 'tiger cubs' game last year, yes he's one of the bigger boys on the park but he's using his skill instead to break the line, it stood out immediately.
Physically he needs a bit more time but he has the opportunity in front of him to cement a spot in 1s this year.
 
I think bateman will start outside the squad. Sends a bad message to the blokes who've been busting a gut during pre-season to have him walk in immediately. Even if he does have the runs on the board

Once he's got some decent squad training in, he'll come into the side.

We saw the difference in Wakehams game from just a week longer with us at training.
 
hammertime said:
I think bateman will start outside the squad. Sends a bad message to the blokes who've been busting a gut during pre-season to have him walk in immediately. Even if he does have the runs on the board

Once he's got some decent squad training in, he'll come into the side.

We saw the difference in Wakehams game from just a week longer with us at training.
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Wakeham got nothing to do with extra weeks training, it was all about the players around him
 
Dino said:
To be fair he's only 19 and played 40 mins of first grade mostly out of position I wouldn't write him off yet
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Not at all writing him off. He will have a heap of chances to show us what he is made of and hope he nails it. Just think it’s far too early to be banking on him as a NRL player.
 
batboy said:
Who's writing him off....
As you said - He's only 19.
He's just not ready....

Is he getting a spot in the 17 over Twal, Pole, Blore or Ofa
if we're fully fit?
Doubtful....

I've seen nothing from him in NRL (or Juniors) to suggest he's close to being ready for NRL week after week.
- Let alone a starting spot.

2024 may be a different story....
He's not in my top 21 atm, And I'm not alone...
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I actually disagree. I know he isn’t standing out like Rhys Walsh in his debut game but he is a forward. And the things he does well he does effectively even for 19. He makes solid contact and doesn’t get overpowered in the ruck. He gets through the line with footwork. And he has very good passing skill.
In my opinion and you might be on the same page I would prefer for long term benefit of club and player that he isn’t starting over more senior players however if injuries hit or for whatever reason he is needed to be called in to the game day 17 I am confident he will handle it.
 
Got a few leaders in the forwards and among those a couple of hard nosed mentals like Klem and Bateman who will get stuck in.
 
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