John Bateman: England second-rower leaves Wigan to join Wests Tigers

Bateman made 23 appearances successful 2022, scoring 4 tries

John Bateman has near the Wigan Warriors to articulation Wests Tigers successful Australia's NRL.

Bateman, 29, near Wigan for Canberra Raiders successful 2019 before returning location successful 2021 for idiosyncratic reasons and signing a four-year woody astatine the DW Stadium.

He played successful 4 of England's games astatine the caller Rugby League World Cup, including the semi-final nonaccomplishment to Samoa.

In a statement, Wigan said that they had archetypal heard "murmurings" that Bateman wanted to permission successful July but aft speaking to the player, his cause and the nine successful question, they made it wide that they wanted him to stay astatine Wigan.

They added that during the World Cup, Bateman informed them of his tendency to spell backmost to the NRL and asked to hold discussions until aft the tournament, which they agreed to.

The connection went on: "On Wednesday, 14 December, John informed america of his determination that helium wants to effort the NRL 1 much time.

"It has been somewhat of a frustrating play but the nine present accepts that it is successful everyone's champion interests that John is allowed a transportation from Wigan.

"As ever successful these situations, we person acted with the champion interests of the nine astatine bosom and we volition proceed to enactment successful that manner. The nine received a important transportation interest for John. We convey John for his work implicit his 2 stints and we privation him well."

Wigan accidental determination volition beryllium nary contiguous replacement for Bateman but they volition show the situation.

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