Any substance to the league express headline of bateman to leeds??

I hope so. Cracking player.

horrible person though

Not a fan to be honest.

Can we really afford to refuse if he is available at the right price? I mean ...Walters is getting far too many games for my liking.

He will offer that 'bit of bite' we are lacking in our otherwise pack of 'nice guys'

Good hooker and halfback still the priorities of course.....

All irrelevant if we are playing championship footie in 2017

Swap him for Hardaker and have done with it. A fairly decent trade, both parties would get a decent player. Wigan would bite our hands off.

Why would they want Hardaker when they have their golden boy prodigal son holding down the FB spot? Where else would Hardaker play?

Besides I thought the whole idea was he was going down under to the NRL? (If he can get anybody to sign him of course after undoubtedly decreasing in value this season)

If Hardaker is supposedly worth £300k (not that Leeds will see anywhere close to that for him, indeed will probably end up letting him go just to get him off the wage bill), how much do you think Wigan will ask for one of the best forwards in the competition over the last two years?

Think what they paid for Fielden and then add some on top.

Be a great signing if true even though I detest the guy.
Zak should follow Charnley into union and they can keep their bromance going.
I cannot see why Wigan would want Zak.

The £300k price tag is nothing but a bit of leverage for the club. I suspect they will take a lot less or a more than likely a player swap. Granted no one in SL is gonna pay that, but the club didnt envisage Bateman becoming a possible swap target. As for where Wigan would play him, no clue...but Burgess, Sarginson and Charnley have all left/leaving. And as we all know, Sam is a much better half back

....

The guy comes over as a right annoying banker. Would be right pssd off to see him in a Leeds shirt. As previously said though he won't be coming to a team likely to be playing in the championship next season

I know it wasn't your suggestion but a swap for Hardaker would at least send a far more horrible person the other way.

Bateman has issues but I'd turn my back on him before I would on Hardaker.

Bateman and Ferres could be the most unlikeable second row pairing of all time.

Yeah, a guy who's been key to 3 grand final victories and has won a man of steel is worth less on the market than someone who's done none of that. *taps head*

It's being reported in Aus that the Raiders are interested along with other NRL clubs.

RAIDERS EYE FIERY ENGLISHMAN

Canberra may get a player swap for Nu’uausala, with the Raiders one of several NRL clubs keen on England Test forward John Bateman.
The fiery Bateman has been dropped for the last two games amid claims he was fighting with a team-mate after a drunken trip to the races, which Wigan are still investigation.

Bateman has a clause in his contract allowing him to be released to move to the NRL

Value is about future and what they will deliver over the length of the contract - which of these two do you think will deliver the most value over the next five years?

Hardaker, marginally. They both have the same downside.

Hardaker is 10x better.

He's also achieved more in his career at this moment in time then Bateman ever will.

Be prepared for this to come back and haunt you in five or ten years time

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about Bateman. He's alright. Slow centre, small back row. Seen loads of those over the years.

Hard to say for certain which of the two will do better over the next 5 years because you don't know what clubs they might move to. As it was Bateman and Wigan were a perfect fit for each other.

Would much rather have Farrell given an option, and he gets a lot of stick from some fans.

We still have Steve ward to come back don't need any more second rows

Hooker, Half back that lead us around are main priorities surely. Only need another back row if we get rid of one of jjb or delaney.

If you think Leeds will get anything close to £300k, you want to be careful tapping your head lest you get splinters.

Similarly, if you think Wigan would take anything less than that for Bateman with his best years in front of him, you need your bumps feeling.