A shock new club has emerged as a possible destination for wantaway Tigers forward John Bateman after a surprising development involving the Rabbitohs.
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According to Code Sports, Bateman advised Souths in recent days that he isn’t interested in a deal, despite his close relationship with new coach Wayne Bennett.
With Souths now out of the running, the North Queensland Cowboys have emerged as the new front runner.
The Cowboys and Bateman have reportedly been engaged in talks over a possible deal, however nothing has eventuated yet.
In Townsville, Bateman would provide plenty of experience to a young, promising room of back rowers including Heilum Luki and Jeremiah Nanai.
North Queensland lost a talented edge forward in Kulikefu Finefeuaki to the Dolphins in the offseason, so Bateman would be a welcome addition.
At this stage, Bateman plans to return to Tigers training early next month even though the joint venture club are keen to release the forward from his contract two years early.
NEW CLUB ENTERS RACE FOR GUN PROP AMID TITANS’ CRISIS TALKS
The Raiders have reportedly entered the race for promising Titans prop Josiah Pahulu amid the young gun’s contract stand-off with the Gold Coast.
Pahulu, who won the 2024 Titans Rookie of the Year award, is said to be disgruntled with the club and is pushing to be released from his contract immediately.
The dispute stems from Pahulu being rested for the Gold Coast’s final game of the 2024 season. Had he played in that, the 20-year-old would have received a bonus worth $40,000.
The Bulldogs are monitoring the situation closely, as is the Raiders according to Sydney Morning Herald reporter Danny Weidler.
Canberra have set their sights on Knights prop Leo Thompson, who goes off contract at the end of 2025, but according to Weidler, Pahulu is the Green Machine’s ‘Plan B’.
“I know Mal Meninga was up there (at the Titans) for a while and Mal is now at Canberra and he reckons this kid’s got it and he’s another Josh Papali’i, so that’s how good he is potentially,” Weidler said on the Footy Talk podcast.
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The Raiders are keen to bolster their front row stocks with Papali’i expected to hang up the boots at the end of next season.
While rival clubs are circling, the Titans aren’t keen on letting a player with such potential like Pahulu leave without a fight.
Weidler’s SMH colleague Michael Chammas said on the Footy Talk podcast that Gold Coast brass will meet with the forward later in the week.
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