Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

king_sirro said:
Excuses excuses. Funny how it was other players faults that he couldn't hit a hole, but a rookie on the other side had no issue with the ball he received.

So many have this fantasy that it wasn't Johnny's fault he was so bad, and in a better team he will be better. The stuff he did wrong had nothing to do with anyone or anything except himself. Samuela proves that.
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He was no attacking threat, running the ball half paced and mostly sideways at Warrington also, what was the excuse there ?
I will give you all the answer, Bateman was once a fearless ball runner who always hit top speed very quickly when running the ball, however he has picked up plenty of injuries over the years and now plays with plenty of self preservation meaning he is no longer willing to run the ball fearlessly or at anywhere near top speed.
Even when defending where he used to hit hard with his shoulder quite regularly, he now mainly arm grabs and only hits hard with his shoulder after he is fired up from having an altercation with an opposing player.
Can a good coach get him back to his fearless style of play?
Hard to say, but unlikely as even a hard man in Sam Burgess couldn’t get it out of him.
 
426Tlgerland said:
He runs sideways cause we had no player able to put him into gaps , our leaders were poor , ( wooden spooners x 3 ) Bateman is the type who does get frustrated and over try’s his job , now with Luai , May , Bird , Hunt and Galvin coming along his job should be easier , he will have quality around him he had kids around him or players Ipap who didn’t give a shit , Bateman in our pack makes it stronger he is a very good defender and line runner , Penalties = Frustration =
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He's past it, and in fact he's been past it since at least a couple of seasons before we got him. Believing there is still anything to be extracted from the corpse of John Bateman, whatever attitiude he's bringing to work, is up there with the people who continued to believe that all we had to do was "get some early ball" to James Roberts and all of a sudden it would be 2016 again.
 
2041 said:
He's past it, and in fact he's been past it since at least a couple of seasons before we got him. Believing there is still anything to be extracted from the corpse of John Bateman, whatever attitiude he's bringing to work, is up there with the people who continued to believe that all we had to do was "get some early ball" to James Roberts and all of a sudden it would be 2016 again.
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His first game against the Bulldogs when we nearly snatched it late, he was great, he came in clearly underdone but busted his arse in nearly 40deg heat.
Tackled everything, was dangerous with ball in hand and generally was a spark that willed the others on.
But since that day he has been on a downhill trajectory, and fast forward to back end of last year he just looks completely disengaged, falling off tackles, making dumb errors at the wrong time. The spark had gone out.
It's all attitude based, there's still a high quality player there but his attitude needs a big adjustment, would love to see fences mended but it will be a big task for Benji.
 
AdelaideTiger said:
His first game against the Bulldogs when we nearly snatched it late, he was great, he came in clearly underdone but busted his arse in nearly 40deg heat.
Tackled everything, was dangerous with ball in hand and generally was a spark that willed the others on.
But since that day he has been on a downhill trajectory, and fast forward to back end of last year he just looks completely disengaged, falling off tackles, making dumb errors at the wrong time. The spark had gone out.
It's all attitude based, there's still a high quality player there but his attitude needs a big adjustment, would love to see fences mended but it will be a big task for Benji.
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And through all this Sione Fainu waits for a top 30 contract!
 
Camel2281 said:
The coach isn't the one that is the problem out of those two. It's the bloke looking for excuses to not turn up to training
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I'm sure Bateman is somewhat culpable but very doubtful only one side is to blame. Particularly as Benji has form with Joe O also reportedly leaving after a clash with Benji as well as Klemmer and Naden reported to each have their own disputes with him.
 
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AdelaideTiger said:
His first game against the Bulldogs when we nearly snatched it late, he was great, he came in clearly underdone but busted his arse in nearly 40deg heat.
Tackled everything, was dangerous with ball in hand and generally was a spark that willed the others on.
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To put that game into perspective, it was that hot and both sides were obviously delirious as Brandon Wakeham came on and looked like Joey Johns!
 
426Tlgerland said:
He runs sideways cause we had no player able to put him into gaps , our leaders were poor , ( wooden spooners x 3 ) Bateman is the type who does get frustrated and over try’s his job , now with Luai , May , Bird , Hunt and Galvin coming along his job should be easier , he will have quality around him he had kids around him or players Ipap who didn’t give a shit , Bateman in our pack makes it stronger he is a very good defender and line runner , Penalties = Frustration =
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I have yet to see Bateman run a hard unders line like Ellis used to.
He wants the ball early to crab across field and then straighten up.
He would would my nightmare edge backrower if i was a 5/8, although on the plus side if he was defending inside you, could not want a better defensive backrower.

At his best, Bateman is a defensive backrower and nothing more. He will never be that dynamic backrower nor does he have any ball playing ability.
 
cqtiger said:
If Bateman wanted to show everyone that he was willing to let bygones be bygones he would turn up earlier for training just like most of our new signings. Instead he fights tooth and nail NOT to be here.

He won’t be in the Tigers 17 next year.
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He had a tough year & just finished international games a few weeks ago, why does he have to show up early? It’s good at that some of the other guys have came a couple weeks before being due back but at the end of the day it’s a job & he is entitled to his time off. All he has to do is turn up on time, be ready to work hard & all will be forgotten
 
Juice said:
He had a tough year & just finished international games a few weeks ago, why does he have to show up early? It’s good at that some of the other guys have came a couple weeks before being due back but at the end of the day it’s a job & he is entitled to his time off. All he has to do is turn up on time, be ready to work hard & all will be forgotten
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He doesn't have to do anything.

The point is others have shown up early and we are coming off 3 spoons where he has not performed to his contract value.

We are all interested in our entitlements and rights, but not our responsibilities. As a senior player, he has the responsibility to set the standard for the others. Sometimes that includes doing a bit of overtime to get the result you are paid to get rather than knocking off at 5 because your contract says you only have to work 38 hours a week.

Sackable offence? Definitely not. Does it say a lot about his sense of duty to his team? Definitely.
 
weststigers said:
He doesn't have to do anything.

The point is others have shown up early and we are coming off 3 spoons where he has not performed to his contract value.

We are all interested in our entitlements and rights, but not our responsibilities. As a senior player, he has the responsibility to set the standard for the others. Sometimes that includes doing a bit of overtime to get the result you are paid to get rather than knocking off at 5 because your contract says you only have to work 38 hours a week.

Sackable offence? Definitely not. Does it say a lot about his sense of duty to his team? Definitely.
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That sums it up perfectly,if he had and pride in himself he would be doing everything he can to help the club turn around it's results.Instead he is being petulant sulking over 10000 miles away.Hope you are enjoying the deep fried mars bars and fish and chips over there.
 
cqtiger said:
If Bateman wanted to show everyone that he was willing to let bygones be bygones he would turn up earlier for training just like most of our new signings. Instead he fights tooth and nail NOT to be here.

He won’t be in the Tigers 17 next year.
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Yeah he's finding ways not to be there. But we don't have any other option at 2nd row and he's still contracted. Even if he wants to go I say keep him next year then move him on the in 2026
 
weststigers said:
He doesn't have to do anything.

The point is others have shown up early and we are coming off 3 spoons where he has not performed to his contract value.

We are all interested in our entitlements and rights, but not our responsibilities. As a senior player, he has the responsibility to set the standard for the others. Sometimes that includes doing a bit of overtime to get the result you are paid to get rather than knocking off at 5 because your contract says you only have to work 38 hours a week.

Sackable offence? Definitely not. Does it say a lot about his sense of duty to his team? Definitely.
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I agree it would be great if he came back early & trained the house down but realistically that isn’t happening. All we can hope is he takes this break to reset his mindset & comes back to training refreshed with a point to prove. If he keeps his closed to media & performs well in the fitness tests I think it will go a long way to repairing a few things between himself & staff
 
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