After two years playing in the NRL for Canberra Raiders, John Bateman returns to the Wigan Warriors with the aim to win his third Super League title

England International John Bateman began his rugby league career at Bradford Bulls where he played 35 times in his two years at the club.

After making his first team debut at 17 in 2011, Bateman made a big impression in his debut Super League season, winning the Albert Goldthorpe Rookie of the year award.

In 2013 aged just 20 he made the decision to leave his boyhood club and move to Wigan Warriors, the Super League Champions and Challenge Cup holders at the time, for an undisclosed fee.

Bateman said this on his time at the Bulls, “I would like to thank everyone at Bradford for allowing me this opportunity and I hope I can play my part in winning silverware with the warriors”.

Wigan manager Shaun Wane signed the England Academy International to add options in the pack. Wane said this about his new signing.

“He is a player I rate very highly. I see lots of areas where he will improve.

“As he matures with us, he will be a good asset in our quest to continually challenge for honours”

During his first season at Wigan, Bateman featured in the World Club challenge against the Sydney Roosters, before making his Super League debut in round two against Castleford Tigers. He went on to make 21 appearances scoring four tries in his first season at the Warriors, but his first season ended in Grand Final disappointment losing to rivals St Helens in the 2014 Super League Grand Final.

The 2015 Super League season was a season in which John made the centre position his own. The Englishmen made 30 appearances scoring eight tries. But just like his first season, it ended in Grand Final defeat. This time at the hands of Leeds Rhinos.

2016 was a season of highs and lows for Bateman, who was involved in the start of the season before an “alleged fracas” between two Wigan players at a gym. Bateman was linked to the controversy after his omission from the Wigan squad against Hull KR and Salford, before he was fined £10,000 and suspended for eight weeks for his involvement.

After his suspension Bateman returned to action in excellent form and was a part of the Wigan side who made it to the 2016 Grand Final the third successive of his Wigan career.

It was third time lucky for John Bateman and his Wigan Warriors side after coming back from a half time deficit to beat Warrington Wolves, to claim their first Super League title since 2013, a game in which they also beat Warrington.

2017 was all about the Challenge Cup for Wigan as they had a poor season in the league, but they ended the season trophyless falling short under the Wembley arches against Lee Radford’s Hull FC. 2018 saw Bateman claim his second Super League title with another win over Warrington, before he said goodbye to his Wigan teammates and set off for a new adventure over in Australia with Canberra Raiders in the NRL.

On leaving Wigan, Bateman signed a two-year deal with the Raiders which was headline news across the UK and Australia, but the news that Bateman had signed a three-year deal with Wigan when he returned to England was the news Wigan fans wanted to hear with Bateman a fan’s favourite during his time at the Warriors.

On the move to the NRL Bateman said this “This has been an incredible tough decision for me to make as I have enjoyed my time at Wigan, but ultimately, I have always had the desire to play in the NRL at some point in my career, so this opportunity is something I didn’t want to turn down.”

John Bateman had his dream move to the NRL and showed Australia what he is all about, on debut in the Raiders round one 21-0 victory over the Gold Coast Titans. The England international announced himself to the NRL by amassing team highs of 154 running metres and 36 tackles with five tackle busts.

He is the latest in a growing list of Englishmen who have excelled in Australia. In his first season in the NRL Bateman made 22 appearances scoring five tries and was an integral part of the Raiders side who started the season winning five of their first six games. One of the best starts to the season by the club since the 1990s. The Raiders finished the season with a record of 13 wins and seven losses.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and John Bateman were both new recruits for the Raiders ahead of the 2019 season with both proving to be revelations for the club helping Canberra reach their first NRL Grand Final in 25 years. At the end of the season awards, John Bateman won the Dally M second-rower of the year award. An accurate representation of how impressive Bateman was in his first season for the Raiders.

Unfortunately for Bateman and Canberra they fell short in the NRL Grand Final to a very strong Sydney Roosters side. In a game which could of gone either way, the Roosters retained the Provan-Summons Trophy to become back-to-back Premiers.

The 2020 season was a season hampered with injuries for John Bateman who was only able to make 10 appearances at the end of the season.  The announcement that Bateman would be returning to the UK and back to the Wigan Warriors at the end of the NRL season was made public with the Raiders set for the NRL Finals.
Bateman had this to say on his time at Canberra.

“The Raiders gave me an opportunity to come to Australia and play in the NRL and I have loved every moment playing for the club”.

The dream for the former Wigan man was to return home after a NRL Grand Final victory in his final appearance for the Raiders, but it wasn’t the fairytale ending Bateman had dreamed off, with Melbourne Storm beating the Raiders in the NRL Semi Final.

The 2021 Betfred Super League season is nearly upon us and Bateman is back at Wigan after his two-year spell in Australia and he has his eyes on the Super League Trophy once again having won it twice before in his first spell at the Warriors.

Adrian Lam’s side went close last season losing in the dying seconds to St Helens but they will be looking to bounce back and go the extra step this season.

“Wigan are thrilled to be bringing John back to the DW Stadium”.

“John is one of the best players in the world. He has respect of players and coaches in both hemispheres and is a natural born competitor and leader.” – Wigan executive director Kris Radlinski said on Bateman’s return

Now back at Wigan, Bateman will be looking for another successful season back at his old club with the hope of winning his third Super League winners ring. He will come into a team already filled with amazing talent playing alongside the likes of  Jackson Hastings and Bevan French. Adrian Lam collected his first piece of silverware last season by winning the League Leaders Shield and he will want to add to that this season.

In a season which demands so much from players already, they will all be hoping to be at their best throughout the season in the hope of a call up to their National side, with the 2021 Rugby League World Cup just around the corner.

John was in the England side who narrowly fell to a 6-0 World Cup defeat to Australia in 2017. If selected for the World Cup squad he will be reunited with ex-Wigan coach Shaun Wane. A manager who he won two Super League titles under and was a big part in bringing him to Wigan.

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