John Bateman and Wests Tigers feud sees RLPA intervention

The bad blood between John Bateman and Wests Tigers has gone a step further with the RLPA forced to intervene and rule on matters.

The Rugby League Players Association (RLPA), chaired by former Hull KR man Clint Newton have been forced to intervene after John Bateman argued against the return date that had been set for him by Wests Tigers, per The Daily Telegraph Down Under.

Despite the reported spat between the England international and Benji Marshall being the trigger that saw him loaned out to Warrington Wolves, John Bateman had recently explained his intention to return to see out the final two years of his contract with the NRL club.

After speaking to Serious About RL and explaining that he would definitely be going back, he clarified to NRL.com that his return date would be after Christmas.

That was not what Wests Tigers wanted to hear with this recent report claiming that Wests had called for John Bateman to return on December 21st, something the player would then dispute leading to this recent RLPA intervention.

More drama in John Bateman saga

Reportedly, upon hearing that Wests wanted him in a week earlier than he had expected, Bateman ‘provided a letter from Warrington supporting his claim that he should be given extra time off’.

When presented to the RLPA, they took the side of Bateman and delayed his return to December 28th instead.

Despite that being resolved, it seems apparent that Wests do not really want John Bateman back and have been trying to field offers for him but his $750,000 salary is a sticking point.

‘Messy’ is how Michael Carayannis of The Daily Telegraph described the situation when speaking on SEN radio last week. He explained that neither party is happy but Manly, one of the NRL clubs leading the chase for John Bateman, may not have the cap space for the Englishman.

Carayannis explained: “The Tigers don’t want John Bateman to return and Bateman doesn’t particularly want to return to the club.

“Bateman has that link with Manly but the Sea Eagles have to move a player to accommodate him and they haven’t been able to do that.

“It’s a delicate situation because neither party wants to be aligned with each other next season.”

This recent forced intervention from the RLPA will have undoubtedly soured relations even further making for an even more tenuous relationship between club and player.