John Bateman is a quality, young, tough player and I thought he played outstanding as Wigan captain today (baring in mind its probably a lot for a young forward to take on especially at a club such as Wigan). There was doubts about his size on here and he has definitely showed them size only contributes to so much, talent, hard work, mental and physical toughness as well as a rugby brain will take you further and this is what he bring to the Wigan team.
Whats more freakish about him is he is 22 year old and is still not fully developed. There is more to come from him as aspects of his game can be improved. Looks like a replacement for Sean O'Loughlin and once his body matures and finally settles into the back row (Loose Forward probably) Wigan will have a class talent in their squad that is if the vultures from down under snap him up.

He's just a natural league player. I've said this many times but what impresses me most is his rugby brain. He doesn't seem the brightest off the field but put him on a rugby pitch and he's just a natural. He gets in great positions and just seems to have an instinct for what's happening around him.

He just doesn't want to play centre. He's said before he'd rather play in the forwards. We should play him wherever he wants to play and build the team around him.

This is what marks out (potentially) great players from the rest. Gelling and Sarge don't have a rugby brain between the pair of them. Bateman does. Budgie does. Lockers has one. It's trait that stand out.

I wasn't suggesting that he should, or would want to, play centre. Just that it would be within his capabilities to make a success of it. Like most here, I'd like to see him as an eventually replacement for Lockers. I daresay he would, too.

We just need to hang on to him!

How anyone can criticise gelling and sarginsons contribution this year is beyond me.

On his day, Gelling is our most dangerous strike-player.

The occasional bainfart is permissable if for the rest of the time he does what he's done most of this season, which is terrorise the opposition's line.

I also think he's got a very good pair of hands, though I will admit that my heart is in my mouth when he runs the ball one-handed.

Proud moment for John and Dudley Hill last night, phenomenal young man and one of the most humbling things about him is wherever possible hes down at our club watching his brother. Well done John

Watching him in our team this season was like watching Trent Barrett when he was here. He see's and does things that almost all the other players on the team can only dream of. If he isnt in contention for MOS this year then it will be a travesty

Fingers crossed we can keep him for a very long time