A DEAL to keep John Bateman at Warrington Wolves longer-term has not been taken completely off the table.

However, all parties have insisted that as things stand, the England international will be returning to Australia at the end of the season as planned.

Bateman has arrived in Warrington to join his new teammates having agreed a deal for the remainder of 2024 – a maximum of 11 games – from NRL side Wests Tigers.

He has two years left on his deal with the Australian side, and the 30-year-old insists his intention is to honour that contract.

However, he admitted much of what happens with his future is in the hands of Wests themselves.

“I’ve got a contract there and I’ve got to honour it,” he said.

“They’ve given me the opportunity to come over here for now and do what I do, which I appreciate from their end. It’s a big thing.

“We probably didn’t have much to play for over there, which is probably why they were more than keen to do it.

“I’ve got two years left there – we’ll have to see what happens and what gets said from their end.

“From my end, I’ve got a house over there and family so for me, I’ll be going back there at the end of the year.”

(Image: Joe Richardson)

News of Bateman’s move to The Wire sent shockwaves around Super League, with rumours of a fall-out with Wests head coach Benji Marshall then emerging in the Australian press.

And even the man himself admitted the speed at which things progressed took him by surprise.

“It all happened literally within a week,” he said.

“Last Monday, Benji pulled me in and told me there was an opportunity to come over and play, and it just went from there. It’s gone pretty fast.

“Not winning games was a problem. Where we were in the league was a problem. That needs sorting but that’s obviously an internal thing.

“For myself, it was more about the opportunity that presented itself here.

“I know a lot of the boys here and I know Sam (Burgess), so it’s about coming over and putting my best foot forward and hopefully helping to take this club to where it’s never been before and that’s winning a Super League title. That’s what I’m wanting to do.”

Long-term Bateman deal 'not dead in the water'

When asked how likely it was that Warrington would pursue a long-term move for Bateman, Burgess admitted that prospect was “probably out of the picture for now.”

However, he insisted nothing can be ruled out depending on how the player himself takes to life at the club in the short term.

“We’ve got to respect the fact he’s got a contract to go back to Wests Tigers, but he’s here for now,” he said.

“We’ll treat him as one of our own and make him as welcome as possible.

“You never know what could happen, but I’d probably say it’s out of the picture for now.

“I’ve seen stranger things happen so it’s not completely dead in the water, but let’s see if he enjoys this next 10 weeks here and what he adds to the team.”