‘Best hooker in the game’: Tigers players in awe of new skipper as star recruit races the clock for round 1

A major off-season signing is set to miss the opening game of the season, but it’s another recruit who has caught the eyes of Tigers players.

Api Koroisau is the man to lead the Tigers into their new era. Picture: Tim Hunter

Wests Tigers fans will most likely have to wait another week to see John Bateman in action, with the Englishman at long odds to make his club debut against the Titans this weekend.

Bateman only arrived in Sydney last Friday after complications kept him in the UK for longer than the club would have liked, and it’s unlikely he’ll be picked for Sunday’s game at Leichhardt Oval in a big blow to last year’s wooden spooners.

The 29-year-old got through some light duties at the Zurich Centre on Monday morning but did enough to impress his new teammates, even if some of the messaging got lost in translation.

John Bateman is a fiery customer with plenty of talent, but the Tigers will have to wait another week to see how he goes at his new club. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“I can’t really understand him,” Isaiah Papali’i told the NCA NewsWire as he prepares to shift to the left edge in his first game for the club.

“He got up in front of the team and had a chat, but I had to really focus to hear what he is trying to say to us. He seems like a funny bloke and I’m looking forward to playing with him.”

Bateman dominated the NRL in his short stay with the Raiders in 2019 and 2020 before he returned to Wigan earlier than expected, and Papali’i is expecting big things from him in his second stint down under.

“He’s an unorthodox type of player and I really liked watching him when he was previously in the NRL with the Raiders,” he said.

“I’m excited to have him in our team because I remember trying to tackle him back in the day, but he was really hard to wrestle to the ground. He’s really light on his feet so you can’t really plant your feet otherwise he’ll get past you.”

While Bateman will likely be eased back ahead of a probable return against Newcastle in round 2, another new recruit is ready to make his Tigers debut, with many tipping Api Koroisau as the great hope who can make them a force again.

The representative rake brings money-can’t-buy experience from his time with the Panthers, and his new teammates are so inspired by what he’s done in a couple of months that they had no hesitation in voting him in as skipper.

It’s a big rap for a guy who jokingly bagged the club after Penrith’s grand final celebrations, but it’s nothing in comparison to the call Joe Ofahengaue made when asked whether his new No.9 was the best in the league.

Api Koroisau starred at Penrith and is ready to lead the Tigers after being voted captain in his first season. Picture; NRL Photos

“His deception around the ruck (makes him the best hooker in the game),” the middle forward said without any doubt.

“What separates the good hookers from the rest is they look like they’ve got so much time with the ball. Because that happens, defenders tend to squeeze in because you get scared of what they might do, which then frees up the six and the seven out the back.

“He does it the best and he showed that last year. It’s amazing to watch him and he’s definitely influenced young Jake Simpkin to bring out a side of him that we haven’t seen before.

“Sheensy didn’t really tell us what the votes were, but I assume it was unanimous. It was a no-brainer to pick him because you want your best player to be your leader. I think he’d be in the top three leaders at every other club in the comp.”