FOR John Bateman and Warrington Wolves, it appears to be a case of “third time lucky.”

A long-standing admiration of the back-rower has finally translated into a move – albeit a short-term one – and when Hull KR visit The Halliwell Jones Stadium tomorrow, he will finally don the primrose and blue for the first time.

As the man himself admits, that moment could have arrived much sooner with a move to The Wire having been mooted both before and after he established himself as one of the country’s finest talents.

Back then, the timing wasn’t right but now, Warrington can finally lay claim to having the Bradfordian in their ranks.

“I was very close. I had a meeting with (club owner) Simon Moran when I was 17 about coming here,” he said.

“It’s a long time ago now and it’s weird how things come back around and work themselves out, but we had a meeting and I was pretty close to signing.

“The defining thing was probably my little girl being born at the time, and Bradford were my hometown club and playing for them was something I always wanted to do.

“There was another opportunity as well around when I re-signed for Wigan, so there’s been a couple of chances so I guess it’s third time lucky.”

He arrives with all seemingly rosy in the primrose and blue garden, with The Wire top of the Super League table and a big contender to lift the trophy for the very first time.

Having excelled at back-row, centre and loose forward during his glittering career to date, he also brings versatility as well as experience of triumphing in the biggest of matches.

With the team in fine form, however, he is under no illusions that he must earn his way into Sam Burgess’ plans.

“As a player, you have to come in and work hard,” he said.

“We are where we are in the league for a reason and that’s because we’re playing well.

“It’s not about me walking in here and expecting to play. I’m here to work hard and to play.

“I said to Sam when I arrived that I’m not bothered about where I play as long as I play. I want to play alongside the boys and play rugby league.

“I’ve been in a tough situation for the past couple of years – I think I’ve won about four games over the past two years which for me, is not good. It’s not what I started playing this game for.

“It’s just good to be around the boys and you can see they’re a confident bunch of lads.”

Confidence is understandable for a group of players that have won five matches in a row, and a man Bateman may well replace in the team has displayed an increasing amount of that.

Academy graduate Adam Holroyd – a back-rower very much in “the Bateman mould” in terms of his tigerish attitude on the field – has scored tries in the past two games to go with some key defensive contributions as he continues a breakthrough year.

And the former Wigan Warrior admits to have been impressed with what he’s seen and had some advice for the 19-year-old.

“I’ve seen a bit of him and I’ve told him I think he’s been going really well,” Bateman said of Holroyd.

“He’s all heart and is committed to what he does. As long as you have that, you can work on everything else.

“He’s still a young kid so for him, it’s all about taking these steps in the right direction.

“There shouldn’t be too much pressure on him – for a young kid like him, it should be about going out and enjoying it. As soon as you stop enjoying it, that’s when you should stop playing.

“The stuff he’s done so far has been really good. He’s surrounded by good people, which is why he’s been able to express himself as he has.”