Dally M second rower of 2019

Brilliant performance in his debut NRL season

He has made Britain proud.

Freak of a player

Heard he has signed for Widnes

Don't get what he's said to wind people up there. Well done Batman! Hopefully helps us have a crack at the aussies, it's been a long time coming!

Because I am always looking for the person from the provinces who comes to the premier competition, where he challenges the best and the big-time and emerges on top. I don't care if the person is French or not. John Bateman is a man whom we all should admire.

*England

Excellent player, not suprised he is doign well as always rated him.

Good to see (From a Hull and SL point of view) Ma'u nominated aswell, one of a few top NRL signigs for next season.

While playing for Wigan, he was continuously slagged off by opposition fans who also admitted how good he was.

Ah, so you'll be delighted if Featherstone Rovers beat Toronto this weekend and get a crack at Super League.

Bateman is one of the nicest players ive spoke to off the field. Had time for opposing fans and always made an effort.

On the field he is absolute class and I'm so glad he took the leap to join the NRL. Hopefully stay there for his career now.

The GB forwards should be class this Autumn.

Players like:
Burgess bros
Bateman
Whitehead
Watts
Thompson
Josh Hodgson
Daz Clark

Will be exciting for sure.

And now that it looks like Hastings, Austin and Coote will be part of the backs. Best international side we have seen for a long time.

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Don't forget Robin (aka Elliot Whitehead).

Not a centre then?

I'm hoping that we don't go through with the plan to use aussies. I'd go:

1. Ratchford
2. Makinson
3. Percival
4. Gildart
5. Charnley
6. Lomax
7. S.Tomkins
8. Graham
9. Hodgson
10. Thompson
11. Bateman
12. Whitehead
13. S.Burgess

14. G.Burgess
15. Roby
16. Walmsley
17. Hill

Reserves - Hardaker, Connor, Williams, T.Burgess, Watts, Clark, Farrell

Havent ratchford and charnley been cut from the squad?

I thought that initially as they weren't in the 28 man initial training squad named at the end of September but when I checked on the RFL website a separate GB training squad was announced yesterday and they are in that one.

I disagree with Coote being named in the GB squad even moreso than the other Aussies as we don't need him but Scotland have WC qualifiers coming up and they do need him. Tier 2 and below nations I am fine with using heritage players as they need them to be competitive but Australia, England/GB or NZ should not be using them.

For me Coote has more right than most having already represented Scotland.

On Bateman i see he has come out looking for more money this week and rightly so. He is 'only' on 350k a year which is average pay in that comp and he should really getting at least double that as the best second row running around at the minute.

Not sure, and I know Farrell won't be in there even as a rsserve. It was who I'd pick, rather than who I think will get in.

John Bateman has a virus and has been isolated from the rest of the Canberra Raiders team. Coach Richard Stuart has played down fears that Bateman will not play on Sunday.

It is clear that John Bateman will be a key player in the contest on Sunday, along with Joshua Hodgson, who has appeared at the Grand Final press conference along with his coach Stuart and his co-captain Jarrod Croker .

Whether you live in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or France, it is hard to realise the level of interest that exists among the vast rugby league following public in Australia, about the health of John Bateman and whether or not he will be able to play on Sunday. He is regarded as a star player in Australia and crucial to the Canberra Raiders' chances of winning.

Watts has to be picked before Hill and Walmsley. Watts and Thompson have easily been the best 2 props in Superleague. 3rd best doesn't even come close to these 2 so if Hill and or Walmsley get picked before him then it's a joke.

Not really. He gives away too many penalties and misses too many tackles. You can get away with that playing mediocre teams in SL but not at international level.

For that reason, which Bennett will be aware of, I will be surprised if Watts is picked

Hill isn't playing well enough to be considered. He's had a poor year.

Josh Jones over Farrell for me. He's been outstanding this year.

Agreed, one of if not the best second rower in the comp this year for me.