John Bateman #268

[twentyforty]

The idea is to get him playing to his best and then hopefully the team benefits. I don't get the idea of not competing in reserve grade.

It's a 4 year contract and I doubt it's a $1m a season.

I doubt it’s $1m per season. Where did you get that idea Earl? I think Sheens has a very high opinion of Bateman, I think he sees him as the catalyst for change in a team desperate to get hungry and regain that will to win. For a back rower who has that domino factor, he’s gotta be worth $750k. When you add the $250k transfer fee and a few bucks resettlement costs to make him feel even more wanted and heighten his expectations of his role. Yep, I’d say it cost the club over a $1m to get him here.

 

[twentyforty]

Wow I don’t know we paid $ 1 mill for Bateman per season , where did that come from , maybe $ 750/800

From Earl.

 

[earl]

Yep, I’d say it cost the club over a $1m to get him here.

Maybe. That sounds expensive but all I care about is what we pay under the cap which wouldn't be 1 million per season or close to it.

 

[earl]

It’s not a good look to pay over $1m for an international to run around in reserves.

This is where I got that figure from. I doubt that figure especially per season and under the cap.

 

[earl]

From Earl.

Which I took from your post. I understand you are stating including transfer fees etc but to me it gives the wrong impression.

 

[old_man_tiger]

He hadn’t trained/competed in a team environment for four months and has been training with us for less than two weeks.

Can someone explain why there’s shock behind him not playing right now?

There’s a reason teams have full pre-seasons before they ease into trial matches.

The main area we look bad is the chair having a crack on radio again imo.

 

[jadtiger]

Wow I don’t know we paid $ 1 mill for Bateman per season , where did that come from , maybe $ 750/800

I think you will find people are factoring in his 250k transfer fee as well so it totals 1m when you include his rumoured 750k

 

[happy_tiger]

I get this. I just don't get why you wouldn't play him in reserve grade even for a small period.

Sure he isn't going to be up to speed but he'll get it back and gain confidence if he can perform in reserves.

In saying that it's not a big deal. The issue is that he is a risky contract and we need him to be a weapon. If that happens I don't care if he misses 8 weeks.

8 weeks would a massive deal

 

[earl]

8 weeks would a massive deal

Over 4 years if he plays up to standard for the rest of that time period. I'd take that no problems. The thing is that is an unrealistic scenario. If he is out that long for an injury that is ongoing then we've got massive problems.

I'm hopeful he simply isn't ready due to not having a pre-season and he'll be back in a couple of weeks time.

 

[SeanT]

I doubt it’s $1m per season. Where did you get that idea Earl? I think Sheens has a very high opinion of Bateman, I think he sees him as the catalyst for change in a team desperate to get hungry and regain that will to win. For a back rower who has that domino factor, he’s gotta be worth $750k. When you add the $250k transfer fee and a few bucks resettlement costs to make him feel even more wanted and heighten his expectations of his role. Yep, I’d say it cost the club over a $1m to get him here.

They said he's on 650k for what it's worth.

 

[liltiger]

The idea is to get him playing to his best and then hopefully the team benefits. I don't get the idea of not competing in reserve grade.

It's a 4 year contract and I doubt it's a $1m a season.

I agree Earl. Maybe there might be a clause in Batemans contract that guarantees first grade football unless there are very specific reasons. If Sheens is telling the truth it would benefit him to stay in the first grade squad, I know they say all the grades play the same style but if he's trying to get fitter and learn the plays would it be of any benefit to play in reserve grade. I'll have to fence sit on this one.

 

[liltiger]

The main area we look bad is the chair having a crack on radio again imo.

@old_man_tiger what did he say today ?

 

[twentyforty]

I agree Earl. Maybe there might be a clause in Batemans contract that guarantees first grade football unless there are very specific reasons. If Sheens is telling the truth it would benefit him to stay in the first grade squad, I know they say all the grades play the same style but if he's trying to get fitter and learn the plays would it be of any benefit to play in reserve grade. I'll have to fence sit on this one.

I doubt it’s about getting fitter.
It’s just plain stupid to keep him away from the nrl squad given the job he needs to do, which is help develop some bloody enthusiasm for winning.
We have complained for a decade that the club sends all our on field leaders and potential leaders off to other clubs. Now when we finally get a quality leader some folks want to seperate him from the squad by playing for Magpies?
Geesh!

 

[old_man_tiger]

@old_man_tiger what did he say today ?

Haven't heard anything new mate, just commenting that some of the criticism is about attitudes in the club rather than the footballing decision to hold Bateman back.

 

[BrissieTiger67]

Maybe. That sounds expensive but all I care about is what we pay under the cap which wouldn't be 1 million per season or close to it.

Yep can't include the transfer fee as its a one off cost not ongoing. Lee spends that amount on fedoras.

 

[Lauren]

The club are simply taking the appropriate steps/measures to ensure he's meeting the required levels of fitness, not only to ensure he's capable of performing at optimal levels but is also essential for injury prevention.
I trust people more knowledgeable in Sport Science know what's best for him.

We've really only been able to monitor it for the past two weeks, as otherwise the tailored training methods he's been doing in the background does little for factors like fatigue and motor skills or whatnot.

 

[liltiger]

I doubt it’s about getting fitter.
It’s just plain stupid to keep him away from the nrl squad given the job he needs to do, which is help develop some bloody enthusiasm for winning.
We have complained for a decade that the club sends all our on field leaders and potential leaders off to other clubs. Now when we finally get a quality leader some folks want to seperate him from the squad by playing for Magpies?
Geesh!

If he needs the kms in his legs then running around with the reserve grade would work much better than training.
How do you know it's not about fitness?

 

[Harvey]

If he doesn't play next week it becomes obvious that the club is selling bullshit and he has an injury

 

[hsvjones]

100% he needs to play next round IMO.. Even just off the bench

 

[hammertime]

How can it be that he hasn't "learned the plays" when we look so lost in attack with the current team. Surely bateman wouldn't be any worse