Former Warrington Wolves player John Bateman is rumored to be moving away from Wests Tigers. Although he has two years left on his contract, he fell out of favor with head coach Benji Marshall towards the end of the 2024 NRL season, which led to interest from Warrington. Bateman is set to return to Australia for the 2025 season, but it’s unclear which team he will join.
According to Code Sports, the Manly Sea Eagles are considering signing him while he remains in the UK for England’s upcoming Test series against Samoa. Although discussions are preliminary, Wests Tigers are reportedly open to letting Bateman go if he finds a new deal. However, they would need to help cover his $650,000 salary. Tigers CEO Shane Richardson recently stated that they want players who are committed to the club’s direction, emphasizing that if Bateman is unhappy, he needs to make a decision