I hear Fitzgibbon may not play again and I suppose, from a wire recruitment perspective, Bateman was the best we could do. For me Fitzgibbon has been a wonderful signing and integral to our whole game - he’s been a massive loss.

And also…aligning ourselves with the utter helmet Ant Middleton is not great PR.

Yet Burgess keeps saying he’s a week or so away? I seem to hear this a lot - so not a pop or owt, but seems strange this rumour persists when Burgess is saying otherwise?

From what I know he is likely to retire at the end of the season. He may want to play the last few games jabbed up or likely not. Gutting as he’s been a superb overseas signing.

That would be a real shame, been fantastic.

Jesus! I thought it was a season ender? but never would I have thought it was his career done gutted for the lad if it's true.

Hopefully this is just a rumour as he has been superb for us, would be a very hard like for like replacement for him. And Bateman is NOT the replacement we need.
If he does retire i will be gutted for him.

Bateman won’t be his replacement thankfully but whoever it is has huge boots to fill.

Does not make sense. He was named in the 21 for both Wigan and HKR games granted he did not play but if he is done as you say why would he even be named in the 21.

Also as said by someone else why would Burgess say he is close to playing etc. I really hope it’s just rumour because based on today Bateman is not the answer. Think Bateman got confused with the hot weather and thought he was still in Australia.

As above I never said he was definitely done for this season.