John Bateman future finally secured as England forward signs for new NRL club
John Bateman's future has finally been resolved with the England Test forward signing for a new NRL club. The 31-year-old has linked up with North Queensland Cowboys, with Sydney-based outfit Wests Tigers confirming the players release overnight.
Bateman had spent the second half of the 2024 season on loan at Super League side Warrington Wolves. He has been linked with a move away from the Tigers for several weeks, despite being under contract for two more years. However, the future of the back rower is now secured, with Bateman joining the likes of Kai O'Donnell at the Cowboys, who has swapped Leigh Leopards for the Townsville-based side this autumn.
The Bradford-born star, who began his career at the Bulls before moving to Wigan Warriors, has signed a two-year deal, with the Cowboys being his third NRL club after an original stint at Canberra Raiders. The Tigers, who are coached by rugby league legend Benji Marshall, will continue to pay some of the final two years of Bateman's $700k per year contract, with the Cowboys also chipping in.
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Speaking on the signing, Cowboys general manager Micheal Luck said: "We have been in the market for an experienced forward with the ability to play either in the middle or on an edge. John bases his game around defensive intent and willingness to compete in every situation—a couple of areas we’ve made no secret we want to improve significantly on in 2025. Along with what he does on the field, we also believe he will be a valuable mentor for our younger forwards in Heilum Luki, Jeremiah Nanai, and Griffin Neame."
The Cowboys finished fifth in the NRL table last season and were knocked out the play-offs in the second round. Meanwhile, Bateman will look to build on his 251 career appearances to date. He has scored 60 tries.
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