Five Super League clubs who could sign John Bateman

Richie Myler and John Asiata are among the inductees and the club will no doubt be looking to bring in more big names in the coming months.

They will be one of the clubs most likely to have the salary cap space for John Bateman and Richie Myler, and new head coach John Cartwright could lure the England international to the club, ushering in a new era at the club.

The reported “clean up mission” from Wests Tigers feels similar to the situation at MKM Stadium.

Jayden Okunbor may not have been the ideal NRL back-row signing, having already been sent down to the Championship on a short-term deal, but Bateman is far more likely to hit the ground running in a return to Super League.

Wigan Warriors

Credit: Imago Images

This is an obvious shout out considering they are a former club of his.

Bateman is on more than £300,000 a year and would almost certainly have to take a significant pay cut if he were to return to Super League.

It could therefore be personal connections that determine where he would most like to end up and, of course, Bateman has no closer links to any Super League club than Wigan Warriors.

He spent seven seasons, in two separate spells, with the club and has already returned to NRL side Wigan after a two-year spell with the Canberra Raiders.

One big name, in Willie Isa, could be on his way out of the club at the end of the season as he is out of contract at the end of 2024, and Bateman could be the big-name replacement for the Warriors that they. I will be interested in.

However, it seems they probably don’t need it.

Leeds Rhinos

Credit: Imago Images

There’s no doubt that the forward pack has been Leeds Rhinos’ Achilles’ heel this season and Rohan Smith’s side are currently a long way from where they want to be.

Bateman would bring a presence, both as a leader and physically on the pitch, which could be what they need to return to the top of the table.

Being from Bradford, where he started his professional career, he would also be much closer to home if he moved to Headingley.

His last game involving Leeds Rhinos ended badly, however, as he was sent off in the semi-final of the 2022 play-offs for a high tackle on former Canberra Raiders teammate Aiden Sezer.

Hopefully he will be long forgotten if his return to Super League sees him land at Leeds.

Leigh Leopards

Credit: Imago Images

It’s been a recruitment nightmare for Leigh Leopards in 2024 and they’ve also lost Tom Amone and John Asiata, with Lachlan Lam potentially set to join them on departure.

They will therefore be desperate to start making big name signings as soon as possible and if they were one of the clubs offered Bateman it would be a huge surprise if they and Derek Beaumont don’t jump. chance.

Oli Holmes and Jack Hughes, both second rowers, are out of contract at the end of this season and, with no guarantee yet that they will remain at the club, could face a major gap in the Bateman position they need. fill.

They’ll also almost certainly have plenty of salary cap space after the heavy losses they’ve already suffered this season.

Watch this space.