Tigers coach Tim Sheens has shrugged off options gun recruit John Bateman is nursing an harm — however conceded he was uncertain when the Englishmen would arrive in Australia.
Report urged an ongoing syndesmosis harm was behind the 29-year-old’s delayed return to the NRL after signing a four-year cope with the merger membership in December.
However, chatting with The Daily Telegraph, Sheens stated Bateman’s absence was solely as a result of a problem together with his visa.
Watch the brand new look NRL Pre-Season unique to Fox League accessible on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Wallace’s new lease on life at Dolphins | 02:01
Get all the newest NRL news, highlights and evaluation delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
“He has had a problem (with an old syndesmosis injury) but not to the point of any concern for us,” Sheens stated to News Corp.
“He has got a couple of bumps and bruises on him but he played the World Cup.
“That (the ankle issue) is not going to be the problem. The problem is getting him here and that is almost solved.”
After paying a reported $250,000 switch price to Wigan to safe Bateman’s signature, the Tigers can be determined to see the consultant gun on the sphere come Round 1.
But because it stands, Sheens remained uncertain when the backrower would arrive in Australia and whether or not he can be match sufficient to take the sphere.
“I am not putting any time on it because all that does is there is more and more confusion if it doesn’t happen,” he added.
“Again, I am not going to make a judgment on that (his fitness) until he gets here because once he gets here he has to fit in with everybody and pick up his running and his kilometres on his legs.
“Whether he does or not (start the season) is not worrying me”.
Bateman joins Apisai Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i, David Klemmer and Charlie Staines in making the transfer to Leichhardt.
Broncos to make use of Federer as inspiration | 01:22
MORE NRL NEWS
TRIALS PLAYER TO WATCH: Rugby recruit looms as ‘cult hero’, Roosters prodigy
‘COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE’: Latrell’s post-arrest harm scare as stars open up
‘REMAIN GREAT FRIENDS’: Latrell & Wighton break silence after scuffle
WHISPERS: Two membership race to recruit Dogs wantaway after Gould’s $500k recruit
Meanwhile, gun playmaker Adam Doueihi is reportedly contemplating his future after the Tigers provided him a one-year extension.
Last week, Doueihi expressed his want to captain the merger membership, explaining he has the “natural leadership qualities” to steer Sheens’ facet across the park.
It’s positively one thing I aspire to be,” the 24-year-old instructed foxsports.com.au.
“When I began at Souths I used to be within the rising management group and doubtless learnt my most again there off the management crew — John Sutton, Sam Burgess, Greg Inglis, Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker.
“I used to be fairly lucky to simply take heed to all the things they needed to say and watch they did day-in, day-out each on and off the sphere — I absorbed all that in.
“Since I’ve come throughout to the Tigers, I’ve been within the management group the previous couple of years and I aspire to be a captain.
“I really feel as if I’ve pure management skills and I’m at all times doing stuff off the sphere to assist enhance. Whether or not it’s chatting with a frontrunner of one other organisation, or one other sportsperson — I’m making an attempt to choose totally different peoples’ brains and the way it might apply to me.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
