www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24773355

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24773355

Who would you prefer? Bateman or Currie?

I know where my money is

Not fussed by this to be honest. He's done diddly against us. Potential. That what he's got but can he deliver? Time will tell.

I'd heard he wanted to stay at Bradford because he's got a young kid he had when he was 15/16 so I'm quite surprised.

So much for lenegans support of a cross club agreement not too strip Bradford of players to help them build???

Bateman has every attribute but lacks the fitness to maximise it.

Warrington was a courting Bateman until there debt demise when we agreed to help them by not taking players and in fact gave them generous loan deals.

Lenegans act looks like a double cross to me!!!! And has so gone down very low in my opinion of him!

Bateman will be a full international and on everyone's lips with the coming season.

Poor kid will be brought up a Wiganner

Can just see the Yorkshire kid be fluent in Wiganese in a few months time, saying to his Pater

"Dadthazbrortuztoaole"
"Mamtekuzohm"
"Atitear.Olthuruztoeetizpize"
"Morislinzeelisa.......(the rest of this post was censored by Ian Lennigan)

How the hell are we stripping bradford of players the lad was under contract wigan wanted to sign him the player wanted to come to wigan and bradford wanted to sell him and will have got a good wedge for him.
bradford did not have to sell him but at the moment they need the cash

Wha ? that is not what I understand.

Bateman put in a transfer request after having his salary demands turned down. Then Hudds and Wigan came in with offers, which of course Wigan won. Reading between the lines, the Bradford Board were pleased to take the money, although the fans are understandably shocked and dismayed.

I have never heard of any loans Wire made to Bradford. Where is the reference to this ? And you can hardly blame Lenegan for bidding after Bateman put the 'for sale' sign up.

It's ironic how all this has played out. Wire were interested in Bateman, but with the emergence of Currie, and with Laithwaite and Bridge in the wings, presumably had no interest in bidding for him this time around. Meanwhile Bateman was not just a player, but a Bradford fan, and as I understand it, turned us down originally because he wanted to play for his home town club. He now appears to have changed his mind - although exactly what happened to cause that, we don't know.

He's a top prospect but seems to have injury problems. It always seemed like he would end up at Wire when he did leave Bradford (going off rumour) so I'm surprised by this tbh. I do think Currie is an excellent prospect but with the age of Waterhouse and Westwood I thought he may be a good fit for you.

It's strange that you sign Russell and we sign Bateman because in reality I think we could have done with Russell more due to the positions he can play and you probably needed Bateman more.

Both clubs are making good long term signings though.

Cracking player, with great hands. Unfortunately, Bradford have used him solely as a battering ram.

Bateman's wage demands, we're that he actually got paid on time

ive never tasted Bateman

.

Fair enough, looking at the Bulls board, you could be correct.


What surprises me though is why Lenagan has bought him. Haven't they got enough talent coming through already ?

Must admit that I'd completely forgotten that Bateman even existed, such was the impression that he made on me. I read all the hype a couple of years ago. but whenever I've seen him, he just didn't impress at all. I always thought Elliot Whitehead was a far better player.

whitehead could stay fit thats the difference, in my opinion bateman is a lot better rugby player and can actually defend.

I admit i am puzzled towards the signing as well he is a great prospect can only imagine a few of the youngsters are being tapped up to go over to aus and hansen is going to get a payday at salford in 2015. going to have a lot of depth next season but not sure all the players can be kept happy.

Looking on the Bradford Site it seems like Wane is going to have to keep him on a tight leash.

reading his twitter he does need to do some growing up and mentoring.

Wane has demonstrated in the past that he won't tolerate anyone messing him around. This move may be the making of Batemen. Any idea of the fee?

I didn't realise that Bateman had been at Wigan on a scholarship as a youngster.

He certainly didn't with Hock, Chris Ashton and Sean and Martin Gleeson.

The only one vocal about them as I remember was lenegan

he wasn't the head coach of the senior team back then... and i have no idea of the fee surely someone will? how much was it warrington bid for him?

It's not a 6-figure fee.

I'd guess around £70-80k

I can't recall any game in which Bateman really stood out as a unusually gifted talent.