In response to the poster about recruiting and developing the Storm way, a lot of their players are older when they make their first grade debuts. Harry Grant was 22 from memory. Kamakamitha was 24. Examples only, but these guys have had years to develop their bodies, minds and games in reserve...
No doubt Bateman tries hard. But because he is so undersized (especially in the middle) he wears down and becomes ineffective. As a club we need to move to players that are effective rather than just trying hard. Although, given how poor we’ve been for over a decade and some of the poor efforts...
He’s not getting pulled up on 50/50s. I can see that he’s going to give away a penalty 1 or 2 seconds before it happens. He just puts himself in dumb positions. He and his contract is a dead weight around the neck of this club.
Bateman is poor. But the fact is we have a forward pack on big dollars who simply aren’t delivering.
Bateman - $650k
Ice - $600k
Klemmer - $800k
Stefano - $500k?
These guys aren’t playing anywhere near the contract values. We basically need a whole new forward back. Would keep Sam Finau, Steph...
I don’t agree with this. He had made the tackle and cleared the ruck. It was the lack of pace/effort he showed to get to the kick. The whole league bangs on about “effort on effort”. We never do that. I am surprised to see a single effort from some of our players.
Don’t just get him out of the middle l, get him out of the club. He’s terrible. Small and slow and a penalty machine. Everyone knew he was a bad signing except Sheens. Unfortunately he’s got two more years after this year. Richo has his work cut out trying to rejig our roster, we are just so...