Ex-Wests Tigers man’s ‘misunderstood’ John Bateman claim ahead of proposed NRL switch

Isaiah Papali’i has thrown his support behind his former teammate John Bateman as the Englishman prepares to leave Wests Tigers. Papali’i is readying himself for life at a new club after leaving Wests to join NRL champions Penrith Panthers ahead of the 2025 season.

However, he has spent the last two seasons playing alongside Bateman in a Tigers jersey and as a result he believes the back-rower is simply ‘misunderstood’. After what was reported at the time to be a falling out between himself and head coach Benji Marshall, an incident Marshall has since denied, Bateman was released from his Tigers contract for the remainder of the year and allowed to join Warrington Wolves.

He spent just over two months with the Super League side and made 10 appearances for the Wolves, but he was always expected to return to the NRL in the off-season. He still has two years left to run on his contract with the Tigers but he has been strongly linked away from the club and recent reports suggest Bateman could be on the verge of joining South Sydney Rabbitohs.

It is claimed Bateman will link up with his former England boss Wayne Bennett at the Bunnies, where he would play alongside fellow Englishman Lewis Dodd, who has made the move to the NRL from St Helens over the off-season.

The Daily Telegraph say a deal could be just days away from completion and Papali’i has now spoken to the publication about the back-rower.

“He is passionate about winning and what he believes in,” Papali’i said. “I guess that gets misunderstood sometimes.

“You see him on the field sometimes and he is fiery, but it comes from a good place and he just wants to win. Hopefully they figure out what is best for both of them.”

Should John Bateman join Souths, they will become the third NRL club he has represented, with the Yorkshireman spending two years with Canberra Raiders earlier in his career.