Wests Tigers recruit John Bateman remains sidelined ahead of the Round 2 clash with Newcastle, as the mystery surrounding a potential ankle injury continues.
The 29-year-old joined the club on a lucrative four-year deal in the off-season, but was absent for the opening round loss to the Titans.
Bateman only flew into Sydney two weeks before the season began, but despite the club indicating he was 'acclimatising' to conditions, there have also been rumours suggesting the second-rower is struggling with a pre-existing ankle injury.
Following the Round 1 defeat, head coach Tim Sheens was coy on details regarding Bateman's immediate place in the side, indicating the Tigers would not be rushing the England international.
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“I won’t commit too much on that - John’s just landed, he’s settling in, still doesn’t know the players," he said.
“I’m not going to push him if we don’t think he’s ready. If it was a grand final this week he’d have played, put it that way.
“We’ve invested four years in him and I’m not going to ruin the opportunity early by pushing him through because we’ve lost a game."
Is John Bateman injured?
Despite the rumours and the mystery surrounding his absence, the Tigers have shut down the rumours of Bateman arriving in the country with a pre-existing ankle injury.
Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis told SEN Radio prior to the start of the season that the only reason the key forward didn't face the Titans was due to his late arrival.
“It's just amazing how these stories take on a life of their own...prior to John being signed by the Tigers from England, we recovered all of his medical records and spoke to medical advisors," he said.
“He underwent an independent medical examination and was scanned in England and once he was given full clearance, he was signed by the Wests Tigers.
“When he arrived in Australia, he underwent a further scan which confirmed the results of the earlier scan.
“John Bateman would play for the Wests Tigers this weekend but for the fact that he has yet to acclimatise or learn all of the plays to the coaching staff’s satisfaction. That is the only reason he isn’t playing this weekend.
“To suggest that we would not have taken all precautions, ticked all boxes or undertaken all due diligence [is] offensive.
“Let’s put it to rest. John Bateman is not playing not due to any injury but because he hasn’t acclimatised.”
The notion that Bateman hasn't acclimatised to conditions and learnt the Tigers' structure has raised plenty of eyebrows across the game.
Panthers legend Greg Alexander took aim at the decision from the Tigers and the mysterious nature of his omission.
“He is unorthodox and he isn’t a by-the-plays man,” he said SEN Radio.
“He’s not that cookie cutter approach type player who runs lines. He just gets the ball and does what he does.
“He doesn’t have to know any of the plays because he is that good a player. They might have their reasons and are just telling everyone whatever the Tigers want to say.
“It might be the right decision but I just can’t see it...that falls flat for me.”
When is John Bateman playing?
At this stage, there is no timeframe for Bateman to line up for his new side in 2023.
The second-rower has been left out of the squad once again for the Round 2 clash with the Knights and the club are yet to confirm his status for the following week.
“I won’t commit too much on that - John’s just landed, he’s settling in, still doesn’t know the players," Tim Sheens said following the loss to Gold Coast.
“I’m not going to push him if we don’t think he’s ready. If it was a grand final this week he’d have played, put it that way.
“We’ve invested four years in him and I’m not going to ruin the opportunity early by pushing him through because we’ve lost a game."
