John Bateman #268

Early on I thought Bateman played some decent footy for us when he wasn't doing donkey work in attack and was fresh enough to hit a few gaps and create some opportunities.

But at some point his role in the team seemed to change and he just wasn't big enough, strong enough or young enough to play the role the coach wanted him to.

At the end of the day though, you can't blame Bateman for wanting to see out his contract. It was a blunder from the club to sign an old, smallish forward with an injury cloud hanging over him.
 
Papacito said:
Early on I thought Bateman played some decent footy for us when he wasn't doing donkey work in attack and was fresh enough to hit a few gaps and create some opportunities.

But at some point his role in the team seemed to change and he just wasn't big enough, strong enough or young enough to play the role the coach wanted him to.

At the end of the day though, you can't blame Bateman for wanting to see out his contract. It was a blunder from the club to sign an old, smallish forward with an injury cloud hanging over him.
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Exactly
Unfortunately not the only signing of this type.
 
crazycat said:
That's the mystery of Bateman isn't it?

We have Sheens + Benji + Api and the tigers trying to play fast footy. Bateman used to find those gaps and threaten the line. Now? Nothing other then regularly playing for 80 minutes.

Bateman should be crossing the line, he should be throwing passes and running gaps. He has Api to play off and people around him who want to see some dynamic play. A huge mistake letting Hastings go for him, although Hastings hasn't set the world on fire (he ain't all that. but at least turns up)

That's why I would be happy punting Bateman and keeping Klemmer. Klemmer tackles, runs and does stuff that a first grade forward does. He makes an impact, and if we remove him we replace him with a fringe-grader. Bateman will too be replaced by a fringe grader and getting another who plays 80 minutes will be hard.
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Reuben Porter offers more than Bateman. And he is like 20% of the cost.

Plus he’s younger too and more willing to have a crack.

Bateman is pathetic.
 
Spartan117 said:
Fitness is the key indicator of success for Penrith.

I think there is a very clear lesson there
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Agreed....

There was a moment in the Finals where they were attacking and someone charged down a kick....
The ball went 20m in the opposite direction and was claimed by the opposition - By the time the bloke got up to play the ball - His side was looking at a full defensive line....

Our blokes would have been dawdling back like they were smashing a kebab after a day long Sunday Session.
 
batboy said:
Agreed....

There was a moment in the Finals where they were attacking and someone charged down a kick....
The ball went 20m in the opposite direction and was claimed by the opposition - By the time the bloke got up to play the ball - His side was looking at a full defensive line....

Our blokes would have been dawdling back like they were smashing a kebab after a day long Sunday Session.
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Yep....it takes us three tackles to go from attack mindset to defense in a lost ball situation...good teams switch instantly
 
batboy said:
Agreed....

There was a moment in the Finals where they were attacking and someone charged down a kick....
The ball went 20m in the opposite direction and was claimed by the opposition - By the time the bloke got up to play the ball - His side was looking at a full defensive line....

Our blokes would have been dawdling back like they were smashing a kebab after a day long Sunday Session.
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I found it remarkably simple.

Fitness is an indicator of a players Self Discipline and commitment.
 
It's reported that John Bateman doesn't want to return to training until after Christmas - this guy has been given Club Med style treatment since he arrived. Good on them for standing up and saying no, you need to act like you have a professional contract, and not head back overseas in the off-season like he did in previous years.
 
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Bigscreentv said:
It's reported that John Bateman doesn't want to return to training until after Christmas - this guy has been given Club Med style treatment since he arrived. Good on them for standing up and saying no, you need to act like you have a professional contract, and not head back overseas in the off-season like he did in previous years.
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I'm confused about this.

He obviously has every right to go overseas in the off season.

In terms of returning after Christmas, if he has played international games in the off-season, he is entitled to it.

Not to forget, his team played in the Finals in Super League, so he's already entitled to more time off.

Obviously, unless he is asking for more time off than allowed is a different story, which I don't think any player does.

In fact, RLPA has recently asked clubs to not even contact the player in the off-season.
 
Iron Fist said:
WT have calculated that his first session back should be Dec 21 which is a Saturday and most likely the last session of the year (if they even do a Saturday session). The club is being petty here in calling him in for one session before Christmas. The RLPA agree, or have found with Bateman that he is actually owed another week based on the CBA.

I'd say Luai would technically be back the same session given his last match was also Bateman's. It'll be interesting if he actually is, or if he has been given leave to come back first week in January.
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Yeh, if players want to come early, it shouldn't be dictated by the Club- it should be a player organised return.

Players like Luai, Api, Klemmer etc should be creating a group with all 30 squad players telling the rest what the expected standards are.

It was interesting listening to Garner on the Bloke podcast saying that all grades of Penrith train together, they all spend time with each other and guys like Martin, Yeo, Kenny etc push themselves to hard at training, you have to push hard yourself.
 
Iron Fist said:
WT have calculated that his first session back should be Dec 21 which is a Saturday and most likely the last session of the year (if they even do a Saturday session). The club is being petty here in calling him in for one session before Christmas. The RLPA agree, or have found with Bateman that he is actually owed another week based on the CBA.

I'd say Luai would technically be back the same session given his last match was also Bateman's. It'll be interesting if he actually is, or if he has been given leave to come back first week in January.
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Maybe they are being petty, but I also thought the freedom to be overseas he had last season was ridiculous.
 
It's also an RPLA thing players get 6 weeks off a year. Last Sunday UK/Monday here was his last game the 4th of November. Do 6 weeks that's how they calculated December 21 I believe.
 
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