Former Wigan Warriors star John Bateman among Super League clubs ‘bought’ by West Tigers – Total Rugby League

Former Wigan Warriors star John Bateman is among those reportedly ‘shopped’ to Super League clubs by new Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson.

Richardson is in Britain this week with a view to offloading some of the Tigers’ stars as part of the rebuilding of the club under his stewardship, according to Sydney Morning Herald.

Bateman, who is contracted to the Concord club until 2026 on a salary of $600,000, is one of those said to be on the shortlist, along with former Penrith Panthers defender Brent Naden, who is contracted until 2025 on $300,000 USD.

The 30-year-old has played just under 30 games for the Tigers since joining the club ahead of the 2023 NRL season from Wigan, but has failed to inspire a turnaround in form that saw Wests finish bottom of the NRL standings last year.

Bateman first came through the ranks at Bradford Bulls, making his debut in 2011 and went on to make 35 appearances before being snapped up by the Warriors.

At Wigan, the second-rower made 132 appearances, coming out of Super League in 2019 for the Canberra Raiders, where he made quite an impression.

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