James Graham gives his verdict that John Bateman will stay at Warrington Wolves in 2025

Former Great Britain captain James Graham has had his say on the John Bateman saga following the Englishman’s Wests Tigers departure and move to Warrington Wolves, with Graham even commenting on the chances of Bateman staying at the Wire beyond 2024.

John Bateman was reportedly offered to Super League sides at the start of the season, but fresh reports emerged last week after an apparent fall-out between the second-rower and Wests coach Benji Marshall.

Those reports quickly turned into reality when John Bateman announced on Friday morning that he would be moving to Warrington Wolves on loan for the rest of the 2024 season, a huge coup for the club and a statement of intent that was certified with their victory with 40-4 over Wigan Warriors will go top of Super League.

It was revealed on Triple M radio by journalist James Hooper that he would be “amazed” to see Bateman play for Wests again, with all bridges seemingly burned and Bateman’s former international team-mate James Graham making a guest appearance. offered his verdict on the odds. he remained at Warrington for 2025.

Graham explained: “I mean the potential. It’s a lot of money so it depends on what the Tigers do because he would be one of the highest paid players in Super League if Warrington paid his full wages.”

John Bateman is believed to be on a salary of $650,000, which would be more than £330,000, a large chunk of the salary cap if Wests did not subsidize his wages to get him off the books.

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Graham has appeared alongside John Bateman 20 times in his international career and heaped praise on the Warrington loanee when assessing how he will fare in Super League.

Graham admitted: “I don’t know the ins and outs of what happened there at the Tigers with John Bateman, but I know John Bateman very well and he is a leader.

“When I sang the national anthem for the England national team, I made sure John was by my side. I wanted him by my side. I wanted to be in the trenches with John Bateman.”

The former St Helens man accepted Bateman was “not at his best” but commented on the strange nature of Wests’ exit, while labeling the second singer a “proven winner”.

One thing that was asked of Graham was whether he thought John Bateman still had the fire in him, this being his second time back from the NRL to Super League, but Graham answered in no uncertain terms.

“Yes, I think he does, because I think he still has it,” adding “maybe this change will be very good for John, but at the end of the day it will cost the Tigers.”

Wests are currently at the foot of the NRL but have made big buys for 2025 in Jarome Luai, while Bateman will potentially make his debut for Warrington Wolves against Hull KR next week in a battle between the top two teams in Super League.