John Bateman deemed a ‘risky’ signing as more uncertainty cast over Wests Tigers future

England star John Bateman has had more doubt cast over his Wests Tigers future although there is no obvious club he’ll exit to.

That’s per reports down under with Bateman’s salary, which is believed to be around $650,000 per year, acting as a millstone around his neck. High-spending Wests are even offering clubs $300,000 to take the 31-year-old off their books.

Manly Sea Eagles had appeared as the strongest candidate with their name cropping up in the latest John Bateman reports, however, the club seem to have filled their roster already.

That’s per The Daily Telegraph who report that the club will cut interest in John Bateman which creates yet more confusion over his future.

During the Test series against Samoa, Bateman confirmed his intent to return Down Under after Christmas, even explaining to Serious About RL his contract status.

He told SARL: “I’ve got two years on my contract there, it’s all up in the air with people saying this and that but for me and for Wests, I’ve spoken to my agent and he’s let them know that I’m going back so yeah, we’re good to go.”

Now, these latest reports claim his agent has been ‘shopping his client around to rival clubs’, with little success so far.

John Bateman viewed as a ‘risky’ buy

The rift between John Bateman and those at Wests Tigers seems near irreparable. Only recently did the RLPA have to step in and side with the Englishman over when he returns for the pre-season.

That only adds to what Australian journalist Michael Carayannis had described as a ‘messy, messy situation’, even claiming that ‘neither party wants to be aligned with each other next season’.

Per the Telegraph’s report, that is also the viewpoint of multiple clubs in the NRL. The outlet revealed that of the clubs that they spoke to, ‘all insisted that Bateman wouldn’t be at Wests Tigers next season’.

Despite his impressive form for Warrington Wolves during his loan stint, the 31-year-old is viewed as ‘risky’, particularly at the huge salary he would command even with Wests offering to pay almost half of it.

Despite this latest knockback from Manly, two NRL clubs are reportedly interested but it would appear that options are running out for the former Wigan Warriors man.