John Bateman’s agent has informed Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson of his client’s intention to return to the club for the next two seasons.
The Tigers had been privately hoping Bateman, who still has two years to run on his deal worth close to $600,000 a season, would remain in England or join another NRL club to free up a roster spot and salary cap space.
It comes as an irate Richardson lashed out at a group of injured and fringe NRL players in the aftermath of last week’s defeat to Parramatta in the “spoon bowl”.
Richardson noticed a number of players sitting in the players’ dugout laughing after the defeat consigned the Tigers to a third consecutive wooden spoon, prompting an angry response from the CEO.
Sources with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity in order to speak freely told this masthead that Richardson, who was also sitting in the designated Tigers dugout to the side of the tunnel, told players they should be embarrassed and at least pretend to care about the plight of the club.
The players who were sitting behind the Tigers’ bench included Brent Naden, Aidan Sezer, Justin Olam, Jayden Sullivan and Tallyn Da Silva. The fans sitting nearby allegedly heard the exchange between the CEO and the players.
John Bateman plans to return from Warrington.Credit: NRL Photos
A visibly angry Richardson also demanded the players make their way around the ground to thank the fans who had turned out to watch their team earn the dubious honour of finishing bottom of the ladder for the third year in a row. Richardson declined to comment when contacted on Friday.
In the days immediately after the team’s poor showing against the Eels at Campbelltown, the club received a phone call from Bateman’s agent, Isaac Moses, to clarify misconceptions around the veteran back-rower’s future given the widespread impression the Tigers did not want him next season.
Bateman, who signed a four-year deal at the start of 2023 when Tim Sheens was head coach of the Tigers, has struggled to live up to his price tag since returning to the NRL.
He was granted permission to leave the Tigers mid-season to play under former England teammate Sam Burgess at Warrington in the Super League.
Richardson has a close relationship with Burgess from their time together at the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Under the terms of the release, the Tigers had to terminate Bateman’s existing contract. Under NRL rules, any payouts would have had to go into this year’s salary cap.
The Tigers and Bateman then drew up a new contract to replicate the final two years on his deal. The NRL would not have approved the contract termination-renewal unless Bateman went into the salary cap for 2025 and 2026 at the value of the original deal.
The Tigers, who were willing to release Bateman to free up salary cap space this year, were hopeful he would decide not to return to the club after his stint in England.
But Moses this week contacted Richardson to confirm his client’s intention to see out the remaining two years of his contract.
Several Tigers players have been told they are free to explore options at rival clubs – including Sullivan, Naden and Charlie Staines – but are yet to secure deals elsewhere.
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