John Bateman responds to St Helens on social media after Bentley incident

On Friday night, John Bateman and the Wigan Warriors found themselves on the wrong side of the score line against rivals St Helens.

In a Grand Final rematch at the DW Stadium, Wigan were beaten 26-2 by the Saints. The result certainly left a bitter taste for all Wigan fans. It’s hard losing the derby on any occasion but their failure to score no doubt made it even worse.

To Bateman’s credit, after coming on in the second minute, he ensured he was at the heart of the action throwing himself at his opposite numbers getting into some heated moments with Saints backrower James Bentley.

The pair were both sin binned after an altercation in the first half and, following their re-introduction, the two butted heads again. Unfortunately for the Wigan second-row, Bateman came off second best as he was floored by a Bentley hand off.

Unsurprisingly, St Helens fans loved it and it subsequently made it’s way onto the club’s Twitter feed. Continuing the bad blood from the derby, Bateman responded.

The bloke doesn’t even want to be at your club. Chill out 🤦🏽‍♂️😂 https://t.co/py8FiZ65yd

— John Bateman (@johnbateman1) August 22, 2021

Bateman retweeted the video with the caption: “The bloke doesn’t even want to be at your club. Chill out.”

This of course is in reference to Bentley’s impending move to home town team Leeds next season.

The war of words will no doubt add extra spice to their next encounter if they meet in the end of season play-offs.