John Bateman ready to feed ‘obsession’ and end Warrington’s title drought
JOHN Bateman could be forgiven for sounding like the Righteous Brothers after bringing back that winning feeling.
Now to keep it for two more games and end Warrington’s ‘mad’ 69-year title drought.
The England back rower came back to this country – on his own – after former Test team-mate Sam Burgess came calling.
It will definitely be a short-term move from NRL side Wests Tigers. He will return Down Under with partner Amy Reilly and their son, who are visiting imminently, after Christmas.
Even if he does not head there as a Super League winner, he will travel with a renewed feeling of what victories can do for a player.
Bateman said: “I’ve said all my career that winning feeling is the best feeling. If you want to call it an obsession, I’m obsessed.
“I just love it., I’m obsessed with chasing that feeling and I’ve been part of a club that hasn’t done so well for the past couple of years.
“I came because I didn’t feel I was firing in the environment I was in. I felt like there was something missing, but the opportunity Warrington gave me was too good to say no to.
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“It’s just about winning games and being presented with the opportunity of winning a trophy.
“And being part of these big games now, you realise how important they are. Being away from them for the past couple of years has given me a sense of how much I want to enjoy occasions like this
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“Tonight will see a big statement about what we want to do and where we want to go. The first thing Sam said was, ‘It’s a chance to create history.’
“That’s all I came over for and that’s all I want to do.”
Familiarity also played a part in Bateman’s return – he knows many Warrington players, as well as Burgess.
What is definitely unfamiliar is Warrington winning the league. Amazingly, they have not done it since 1955!
Now winning at Hull KR will give them a fifth crack at ending that drought at Old Trafford.
But now he is 31 and having been there, seen it and done it - including beating the Wolves as a Wigan player in 2016 – pressure is hardly entering the equation.
Bateman added: “It’s pretty mad, isn’t it? For a club with the stature of Warrington, it’s pretty crazy.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been part of that coming from the other side of it. When you’re on that other side, you don’t really care.
“But look at the size and stature of the club – and where it wants to put itself – it’s something that’s disappointing for it but something we’re striving to change.
“The club tried to sign me twice before. I’ve always respected it for trying it’s hardest to get me.
“From the outside, I always looked at it as a family club and that the town has always been on the side of its players.
“Now I’m part of it, you can see what people meant when they said that. A day doesn’t go by when I don’t walk past someone and they wish me good luck.
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“And pressure’s weird, it depends how you look at it. If you asked me a couple of years ago, I’d have been nervous. Now I’m a bit older, I’ve realised it’s just another game.
“The reason why we’re here is we’ve done what we’ve done previously. For us, it’s about playing the rugby we play.”