John Bateman has “goosebumps” just thinking about playing at Odsal Stadium again, something that will be a reality after he agreed a deal to return to Bradford Bulls for 2027.
Bateman will return to his boyhood club after 14 years away, with his final appearance for the side coming in July 2013 – a 19-12 victory over Hull FC.
Since then, he became a Wigan mainstay between 2014 and 2022, with a switch to NRL side Canberra Raiders sandwiched in between.
In 2023, he moved to Wests Tigers, before his most recent Super League appearance came on loan at Warrington Wolves in 2024.
For the past two seasons, he has featured for North Queensland Cowboys, and has made 22 appearances for the club, taking his total NRL games to 88 at the time of writing.
The 31-time England and Great Britain international will make an incredible return home next season, something that he still can’t quite process.
In his first words after signing the contract, Bateman revealed: “It is pretty surreal, this is something I’ve wanted to do in my career, but in the back of my mind I didn’t think I would get the chance.
“When Bradford got promoted back to Super League, coming back was something I wanted to make happen and having spoken to Jason [Hirst, CEO] and Kurt [Haggerty, head coach] over the last few months, it made the decision a lot easier and now to have got it over the line in the last couple of days is a great feeling.”
He continued: “I started watching Bradford at 10 years old, there’ve been times when I’ve played against them and then moved to Australia, but the first result I always look for is Bradford’s.
“I am a fan at heart, my grandma has been a Season Ticket holder for over 30 years, just talking about this puts a lump in my throat – it is a really emotional time.
“I have been able to tell my family, who are over here with me at the moment, and I am looking forward to bringing my fiancé over, who is from Canberra, with my two little boys.
“They’ve never seen me play for my hometown club, so that is a big part of what I am looking forward to. This club has always been really close to my heart, and I am looking forward to coming back.”
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John Bateman seals “surreal” return to Bradford Bulls
When the time comes that the 32-year-old gets to finally run out at Odsal Stadium once again, it will be something that Bateman has thought about doing for years.
Having not done that for 14 years, the thought of running out towards the Bulls faithful makes the hair on the back of his next stand up.
“It gives me goosebumps thinking about running back out at Bartercard Odsal,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I did that in a Bradford shirt, and I am just excited to be a part of the project that Kurt and Jason are building.
“I am looking to give as much as I can to the club and the city, I am a Bradford lad, and this city means more to me than anything.”
However, Bateman isn’t coming home for a retirement party. The goal is set, and helping the Bulls rise up the table is the biggest motivating factor for him to return.
He explained: “I am at a different stage of my career now. I have been the kid in the team, so I am looking to give some of my experience and knowledge to the younger players and work together with the more senior blokes.
“Emotion aside, first and foremost I am a winner, and that’s why I’ve come back. I want to win games, I want us to finish in the top 6 and play big games, I want the club to be back in big games, I want the city to pack out Odsal watching big games.
“My aim is to put my best foot forward for the team and play my best rugby.”
