‘There’s been a blow-up’: Benji blue behind Bateman’s abrupt departure as axe lingered

Details have emerged of Tigers backrower John Bateman’s ugly bust-up with coach Benji Marshall following last week’s loss to the Rabbitohs.

Bateman had an ugly blow-up with Benji.

Tigers backrower John Bateman had an ugly public bust-up with coach Benji Marshall following last week’s loss to the Rabbitohs and was set to be dropped before he decided this week to head home to England.

That’s according to Fox Sports’ James Hooper who revealed the pair had a heated exchange in the dressing room in front of the playing group following Saturday’s 42-28 loss to Souths.

The Englishman shocked the rugby league world when it was confirmed he was headed home after being loaned to Super League club Warrington for the remainder of this season, before returning to Australia to see out the remaining two years of his Wests contract.

The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

The 30-year-old has been light years from the player who helped the Raiders to the 2019 NRL Grand Final during a period in which he was considered one of the best edge forwards in the game.

“There’s been a blow-up since their game against South Sydney on the weekend where he and Benji have had quite a public set-to in front of the other players,” Hooper said on Fox League’s NRL360.

“He let Benji know in no uncertain terms that he thinks Benji treats the senior players as though they’re rookies and he treats the rookies as though they’re senior players.

“So, they’ve had a big bust up.”

Marshall has been continuously mentored by super coach Wayne Bennett after the pair struck up a relationship together at the Broncos and then Rabbitohs.

Fellow panellist and NRL legend Gorden Tallis queried whether a student of Bennett would be displaying such behaviour.

“That doesn’t make sense,” Tallis said.

“Without the senior players leading the young kids and Wayne Bennett’s Benji’s mentor, right?

“That doesn’t happen. The old blokes get treated with respect. The young blokes get the whip.”

Bateman had an ugly blow-up with Benji.

Daily Telegraph Journalist Michael Carayannis said it was the younger players who were actually leading the way in 2024.

“The kids are the ones that are holding their own for the Tigers this year and it’s the senior players that have let them down,” he said.

Hooper said Bateman’s recent form had him in the firing line to be dropped from the NRL.

“Bateman at his best was a damn good player. Let’s be realistic. He hasn’t been at his best and is a smaller edge backrower,” Hooper said.

“Time catches up with every player and I just feel as though he wasn’t going to be able to make an impact in the NRL anymore.

“I think he was going to get dropped off the back of the loss to South Sydney. They led 28-26 he takes a play one carry early in a set, tries a risky offload and then Souths end up getting the ball and they get beat.

“Is that what you want from a senior player?”

NRL360 host and premiership-winner Braith Anasta criticised Bateman’s choice of setting to air his grievances.

“If you are a senior player and you do have an issue with a coach you take it somewhere else. You don’t address it or have it out in front of other players,” Anasta said.

“If you’re a senior player you’ve got to read the room. That’s what I think. You don’t want to put down the coach or critique or criticise the coach if you’re a leader.”

Hooper said Bateman’s spray was in reaction to Benji’s feedback of his performance.

“Benji was giving an honest appraisal of what he thought of John’s performance,” Hooper said.

“John didn’t appreciate it and just went ‘I’ve had enough of this - I am sick of you treating the senior players like we’re kids’.

“And in fairness to the Tigers kids they have been their best players - (Lachlan) Galvin, Fonua Pole, Jahream Bula.

“They’re all the ones that are actually having a red hot crack so they’ve had a bust up which to me, Braith, reading between the lines says Bateman won’t be back.

“He’ll go to Warrington and hopefully he goes well over there. Sammy Burgess is coaching him…and then they’ve got to sort out a settlement though because they haven’t been able to resolve that.”

Originally published as ‘There’s been a blow-up’: Benji blue behind Bateman’s abrupt departure as axe lingered