Star Wests Tigers recruit John Bateman has missed valuable pre-season training with his new team and could even miss the start of the season due to visa issues.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports Bateman is stuck in the north of England and the Tigers are busy working behind the scenes to get the 29-year-old into the country before their Round 1 clash on March 5.
Although Bateman had been in talks with the Tigers for months, he couldn’t apply for a visa until a contract was registered with the NRL, according to the Herald.
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The Tigers announced his four-year deal on Boxing Day but coach Tim Sheens confirmed to the Herald that the Christmas period has delayed his application process.
“There have been a couple of issues with the visa, and the government [departments] in both countries shut down over Christmas, so that slowed us down,” he said.
“We’re not putting a date on when he’ll be here. We’ve got immigration people and experts trying to sort it out.
“It’s a bit unusual, but he’s also not coming on his own.
Bateman, who was granted an early release from Super League club Wigan, wasn’t officially due to training until early January given he represented England in the Rugby League World Cup.
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But he has missed at least two weeks of preparation due to the delays.
Sheens stressed that Bateman is being kept in the loop while waiting for his visa — and his newborn son’s — to be approved.
“He’s still doing plenty of weights and general fitness,” he said.
“We’re sending him videos of our training sessions and plays, and I’m in constant touch with him — we’ll speak two or three times a week. He’s aware of everything we’re doing here.”
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The Tigers’ first trial is in Auckland against the Warriors on February 9, however Sheens said Bateman won’t feature in that game.
The “aim” is to play their second trial against the Raiders on February 19, but Sheens conceded: “We need to get him here first.”
