NRL 2025: Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall defends Terrell May, addresses John Bateman’s future

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has hit back at conjecture surrounding Terrell May’s abrupt exit from the Roosters and addressed John Bateman’s future at the club.

It was another scorcher in Sydney on Thursday and things threatened to get just as hot at the Wests Tigers’ sponsorship announcement as discussion turned to unsettled back-rower John Bateman and new signing Terrell May.

Frustrated Tigers coach Benji Marshall admitted he was unsure if Bateman would be at the club next season, while chief executive Shane Richardson put it back on the Englishman and his management, claiming they would honour the remaining two years of his deal “if John wants to be here”.

It comes as Marshall hit out at conjecture surrounding May’s departure from the Sydney Roosters, which allowed the Tigers to secure the 25-year-old prop immediately on a three-season deal.

Benji Marshall has defended new recruit Terrell May after his shock exit from the Roosters. Picture: NRL Photos

Bateman was loaned mid-season to English Super League side Warrington in July, sparking speculation he had been shopped around to rivals and that his relationship with Marshall had soured.

So, will Bateman be a Tiger in 2025?

“I’m actually unsure, to be honest,” Marshall said at the club’s multimillion-dollar sponsorship announcement with Pepper Money on Thursday.

“What I will say though is what’s been reported about is false, I haven’t had a falling out with John.

“I’ve had honest discussions and in-house discussions around where John’s future is and those discussions will remain private but the things that have been reported are not true.”

Asked if he wanted an immediate end to the protracted contract talks, Marshall simply offered a terse “yes”.

Despite speculation around his future at the club, the Wests Tigers say John Bateman will be still be at the club in 2025... if he wants to be. Picture: NRL Photos

Bateman, 31, isn't due back at Concord until late December after playing for England in a three-Test series against Samoa.

“John’s got a contract for next year,” Richardson said.

“We honour every contract at the club, so if John wants to be here for the next two years, then he’ll be here for the next two years. That’s a decision between him and his manager.

“At this stage we’ve got plans for what we want to do in the future and we want every player who wants to be a part of that. It’s as simple as it is.

“Benji is right, the (speculation) over John has been overdone. It was originally that I was shopping him in England, which was never the case.”

The three-time wooden spooners have overhauled their top-30 roster, adding Jarome Luai, Jack Bird, Royce Hunt, Jeral Skelton, Sunia Turuva and May to a squad that could still include Bateman.

“That’s up to John Bateman, at the end of the day,” Richardson said.

“I can’t answer for John Bateman, I’d like to but I can’t. John knows that he’s got a contract in place, his manager’s made it clear he’s got a contract in place. We’ll deal with John Bateman with that, not you guys.”

Coach Benji Marshall and CEO Shane Richardson at Tigers sponsorship announcement. Picture: Wests Tigers

Marshall also backed comments May made that are believed to have played a role in his Roosters exit.

Earlier this year, May said: “Sometimes I just get ‘I don’t wanna be there and don’t wanna play’” — which raised questions about his cultural fit at Bondi.

Marshall is confident that the 25-year-old is fully committed to getting the Wests Tigers off the bottom of the ladder.

“There was this fake thing around that he didn’t want to play footy,” Marshall said.

“I think what he said was misquoted and misinterpreted.

“He’s actually a guy who has normal feelings like everyone else, and says ‘sometimes it’s hard’, which I admire him for.

“When I sat down with him he was fully committed to getting us out of where we are and wanted to be a part of it.”

May is yet to start training for the Tigers, after playing in Samoa's tour of England. Picture: NRL Imagery

May, Turuva and Luai are the only three fresh faces yet to kick-off pre-season preparations.

But Turuva made a surprise appearance at Concord on Thursday, watching on as the rest of the squad was put through their paces in the sweltering heat.

The biggest sponsorship deal in Wests Tigers history pic.twitter.com/sURovORqoE

— Brad Walter (@BradWalterSport) November 28, 2024

The Tigers also unveiled their new sponsorship deal on Thursday morning with a ceremony at their Centre of Excellence.

The agreement is for the next three years and is the largest in the club’s history. It means that the club has every part of their jersey locked away until the end of 2027.