[url=http://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/870232/Rugby-League-World-Cup-England-John-BatemanBateman appears to be weighing up an NRL move.[/url



Really hope we don't lose him, he's a quality player who never lets us down. Not really what you want to hear given the way the season ended and the fact he's got the toughest game of his life coming up on Friday. Is it too difficult to say to the papers "I'm contracted to Wigan, and focused on turning over the aussies on Friday, not touting myself to NRL clubs"?

Sounds to me like he has been tapped up and already has made his mind up. Apparently the same thing has happened with Walmsley but not sure he would go this year with a new born in the family.

Would be a huge blow losing him and Lockers at the same time, would require a massive replacement.

Goodbye and good luck. Massive loss but given the baggage and disruption perhaps we would be better using the cap space to bring in the talent that we need. I would not mind if Gelling (should he stay) was moved into second row, if we could improve the back line attack.

People often say that, but I think Gelling's high risk play is better suited to centre, where he will have the ball in good attacking positions. If we do lose Bateman, I'd be looking to add some size to the back row to offset Farrell and help out the props. Having a big centre is no bad thing either when you look at we are up against some weeks (Fanoa, Vatuvei, Carney etc)

He has a contract, and if he was to move to the NRL, I would expect a substantial transfer fee to be forthcoming.

Is anyone surprised about this? If I was in his shoes, I'd be thinking about the NRL too, especially after last season. Williams should have gone when he had the chance, not because I don't rate him, but because he could push on as a player over there.

Pretty sure he has a clause that he can move to the NRL(?), but we would need a fee as well.

Would be gutted if this is true, but perhaps might explain where the (until now totally unbelievable) Ben Currie rumour is coming from?

We have replaced irreplacable players before. Bateman would be a loss but not the end of the world. There are plenty of second rowers out there who graft and score a lot more tries....... SOL on the other hand....

Both at the same time on the other hand......

lockers just signed a 2 year contract?

He didn't. He signed a contract to finish his playing career at Wigan with no end date. Could hang his boots up after next season.

The policy of writing into contracts that players can move to the NRL, although well intentioned, needs reviewing.

That would be an excellent incentive for him to have moved to one of our competitors in the meantime. Being a stepping stone to the NRL is a good reason for top UK players to sign for Wigan.

If that is the case then why isn't the team full of them

1 year with an option for the second

Williams, Tomkins, Gildart, Davies, Burgess etc
How much do you think they would cost if you had to buy them from a rival club?

Theirin lies the problem, we believe that we have superstars when they clearly are not. Good players they are yes but don’t get good mixed up with superstar.

At SL level they are superstars, who would you swap them for from Superleague?

I wouldn’t swap them for anyone in SL, currently there are no star players in SL, good players there are plenty but there is no one that you would class as a superstar. A superstar is someone who has you on the edge of your seat, someone that puts the fear of god into the opposition, especially the fans.

Sam Tomkins in his pomp, Ellerey Hanley, Greg Inglis... Not many of them about.

Martin offiah, Jason Robinson , Jonathan Davies, Mal Meninga

How could i not mention Robinson

My favoirite player of all time. Edge of the seat even before he got the ball

The only world class player we the UK have had over recent years has been Sam Burgess. But even he has drastically come off the boil since his stint in Union.