Former Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves star John Bateman has opened up about his highly publicized departure from Wests Tigers, revealing he felt like a scapegoat during his time at the club.
The drama surrounding Bateman’s exit played out in full view, from his loan move to Warrington being announced mid-game to his reported dispute with the club over the holiday period, which led him to seek RLPA intervention.
Australian media widely speculated that Bateman had fallen out with Wests coach Benji Marshall, a claim the England international has now addressed while speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald as a North Queensland Cowboys player.
No Plans to Leave Wests, Says Bateman
Following his loan move, rumors swirled that Bateman had no intention of returning to the Tigers despite being under contract. He has now refuted those claims.
“I had every intention of going back, but maybe the club had a different view on that,” he stated.
Previously, Bateman had expressed his commitment to seeing out his contract. However, his latest comments reveal his frustration over how the club handled speculation about his relationship with Marshall.
“When I got back to England, I started seeing all these stories about me and Benji,” he explained. “I was disappointed the club didn’t shut them down earlier. It took Benji four months to say we never had an argument—something that could have been cleared up much sooner.”
Breakdown in Communication
Bateman also shed light on what he described as a complete breakdown in communication between himself and the Tigers once he returned to England.
“I didn’t hear from anyone at the club about coming back. Even when I signed with the Cowboys, there was no contact. It was bizarre,” he said.
Some reports suggested that Bateman’s strong personality clashed with Marshall’s leadership style. However, the forward insists his concerns were about player development rather than any personal conflicts.
“I wanted the young guys to learn and improve, but I didn’t feel like that was happening. They’ve got a great group of kids, but I wanted to see them progress.”
He also compared his situation to that of former Tigers halfback Luke Brooks, who he believes was unfairly blamed for the team’s struggles.
“I saw what happened with Brooksy. There was a time he should have been playing State of Origin, but instead, he was stuck in a cycle where he wasn’t developing. And for years, he was made the scapegoat. I got a bit of that last year too, but we move on.”
No Regrets, Ready for Cowboys Challenge
Despite the fallout, Bateman holds no grudges against Wests Tigers.
“I don’t regret anything. I still have a lot of good mates at the club, and I wish them all the best.”
Now at North Queensland, Bateman is expected to play a key role in the Cowboys’ forward pack, particularly after the season-ending injury to Heilum Luki during pre-season.
With a fresh start ahead, Bateman is ready to put the past behind him and make his mark in 2025.