John Bateman insists he isn’t looking beyond a return to NRL club Wests Tigers before the start of the 2025 campaign.
Bateman still has two years left to run on his contract with Wests, having joined the club from Wigan Warriors ahead of the 2023 season, but his future appears to be uncertain at this point.
Eyebrows were raised over the summer when the back-rower was allowed to join Super League outfit Warrington Wolves on a short-term deal for the remainder of the season. That decision promoted speculation Down Under about Bateman’s relationship with Wests head coach Benji Marshall, with the club deeming him to be dispensable over the second half of the season.
Since then Bateman has been linked with a move to Manly Sea Eagles, with the club said to be considering a move for the England international. Tigers CEO Shane Richardson has also come out with a word of warning to Bateman, insisting the club don’t want any players who aren’t 100 per cent committed to the cause, with the Yorkshireman being mentioned by name.
However, that’s all just noise for the 31-year-old, whose agent has informed the Tigers that he will be returning to the Western Suburbs in the coming weeks.
“I’ll be going back,” Bateman told Serious About RL. “I’ve not really spoken about it but yeah, I’m going back to Wests. I’ve got two years there and that’s all it is really to be fair, I’m going back there.
“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.”
Bateman has made 32 appearances for Wests Tigers with his last outing coming in a 42-28 loss to South Sydney Rabbitohs in late July.
The forward was speaking to Serious About RL at England’s team hotel as he looks to play his part in a two-match Test series against Samoa. The first Test will be played this Sunday at Wigan’s Brick Community Stadium, with the series being rounded off at Headingley next week.