Canberra legend Laurie Daley says John Bateman owes the Raiders a big end to the NRL season after opting to walk out on his contract with a year remaining.
Currently injured following shoulder surgery, Bateman turned down a huge offer from the 2019 grand finalists after his manager Isaac Moses promised him more.
The ugly contract saga has upset Canberra coach Ricky Stuart, who accused Moses of being manipulative, disrespectful and lacking integrity.
Daley, though, doesn’t expect Stuart, his former triple premiership-winning teammate, to hold a grudge against Bateman.
But he will expect something in return from the English international, Daley said.
“His first priority is obviously to get his shoulder right and get back and help his team,” Daley told NRL 360.
“You know, the Raiders have paid a transfer fee for him, they brought him out to Australia and they’d be looking to him to repay them with some good performances between now and the end of the year.
“It’s disappointing, no doubt about it. John Bateman was a key and an influence in that team last year.”
Daley believes Stuart has every reason to be upset about losing the reigning Dally M second-rower of the year in such a manner.
“We all know Ricky is very passionate,” he said.
“The thing that Ricky does is, he buys into the players – and they buy into him.
“He gives them his heart and soul and he’d feel disappointed that (some) haven’t bought back.
“And I think that’s one of his strengths as a coach, is that they play for him because they know he cares about them and care in a footy team is so important and he would think that that care and trust has been broken.”
But Daley is confident the Bateman drama won’t cruel the Raiders’ 2020 campaign.
“(It) will probably bring them together,” he said.
“I know he (Stuart) speaks highly of the core group of players – or leaders – that he has down there and they will be driving this.
“And they know Bateman’s there for the rest of the year but it won’t derail their season.”
Womblat
Guest
Don't be too baffled. I hate it. You love it. I think it reeks of weak loser ethics. You defend it with your every breath. That's the only difference. Pretty simple.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Get off your high horse... all high and mighty about a punch on a football field. What’s your advice when someone interrupts your PlayStation game? You overtly support a violent reaction in that situation Tell us what you think about the 000 call...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You have to consider they agree for a reason though. Without the clause Bateman would have wanted more money. Canberra probably did it hoping it would just work out later.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I’d like to see the NRL start to step in before registering contracts. On one hand clubs have to take some of the ownership/ criticism for these problems. If what’s being reported is true, that there’s a clause in the contract that allows Bateman to renegotiate at the end of each season. That’s just dumb dumb dumb on Canberra’s behalf. There’s no point in having a 3 year contract if the player gets to renegotiate every year , then walk if he doesn’t get what he wants. To pay a huge transfer fee on what is effectively a 1 year contract is dumber than the contract itself. On the other hand, it looks like some clubs need the NRL to save them from their own stupidity. It’s such a bad look for the game and it drives fans mad every time it happens.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Mouthing off happens all the time in games and guess what only one person in recent memory has reacted like Scott. Your answer to mouthy disrespectful youth is a punch in the head? The answer on the footy field is by hitting the sledger with a big tackle or making a fool of his defence. You are allowed to get in someones face on the field and plenty do. Don't become a coach if your advice to a player who is sledged is to assault someone.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Cowardly? Walker’s had a go before that and had to be pulled apart then goes back to him mouthing off. It’s attitudes like this that’s bringing up a generation of mouthy disrespectful youth. Don’t want a punch in the face? Don’t get in someone else’s face and shut your mouth.
Nick
Roar Guru
That's a baffling response from someone who 2 days ago was selfishly expecting a player to think of YOU the fan, before their career.
Womblat
Guest
Do you approve?
Womblat
Guest
Because that’s the life of a professional footballer. They aren’t brain surgeons. They aren’t nuclear physicists. They aren’t even retail assistants. They live the life they do with the skills they have in the time we’ve got like all of us. And they chase the money regardless of any club fan who likes them. It’s a lonely mercantile life. It’s not for everyone.
Big Daddy
Guest
Now your talking. We could also get Anton Sugher with his stun gun. He'd sort every out.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yep. Bateman owes the Raiders what he's contracted to do. If they wanted more, they should have put it in the contract. Plenty of players are told to take less and we'll lock after you next contract and it's never followed through. If you expect it, put it in the contract.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No the only difference is the Raiders signed him on a contract that allows him to negotiate elsewhere, so there is no binding agreement to pay a transfer fee on. It was a dud deal by the Raiders. I bet they did it to lock him in on less at the time, and sold him "If you perform we will pay you more". Now he's performed better than expected they're left with a situation where he can get too much on the open market.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He is honouring his contract. Canberra signed a contract that allowed this.
Nick
Roar Guru
Yes. Yes. And Yes some more. I wish I could like this post twice.
The Barry
Roar Guru
DV victims are massively disincentivised to proceed. The life they face trying to escape DV is often more intimidating that just putting up with it I work for an organisation that provides services to the victims of DV. I find FTs attitude of “not guilty means nothin happened” appalling I heard the 000 recording of the woman screaming that she was scared of her partner. I read the transcript from the police bodycams. I read the statement from the eyewitness “I saw him [Walker] yank her ponytail very hard and I saw her fall to the ground. He was becoming more vocal and I could hear him pleading with her to come back [inside the house] before he yanked her back. It was enough for me to feel quite distressed.” “I said to him ‘She doesn’t want to come with you. She wants to come with me’. He then said ‘F--- off and mind your own business’.” FT conveniently ignores all of that and pretends to have no opinion. Be a man FT, tell us what you think about all of this To ignore all of that and just say “not guilty, nothing happened” is the opinion of a dullard and someone who doesn’t care about violence against women. You’re right it’s a dangerous attitude. It’s also extremely lazy
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’ve never made remarks about Walker’s guilt. For the millionth time I have no opinion on his legal guilt and I acknowledge he’s been found not guilty Same as JDB...I have no opinion on his legal guilt whatsoever. I think the NRL did the right thing standing him down. That’s it This is how your rubbery logic works: You bag Scott because you’re certain he’s guilty. I bag Walker and JDBs behaviour (not their legal guilt, try and keep up) so you assume that I must be certain they’re guilty, because that’s what you do Rubbery logic, rubbery morals, appalling attitude to violence against women
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’m not asking about the magistrate I’m asking what you thought when you head the 000 call of the woman screaming that she was terrified and that Walker was trying to hurt her As usual you completely avoid the uncomfortable part of this to waffle on about my supposed cockiness....which is complete garbage
Nick
Roar Guru
I meant on 40/20. His understanding of domestic violence is...dangerous.
Big Daddy
Guest
She would have given Walker his come uppance.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The female magistrate heard all the evidence including what you have written above. Your cockiness before the trial was completely unwarranted and your opinion on the verdict is completely irrelevant. You are making a fool out of yourself instead of completing your aim in proving how thick I am.