Guardian website has an article this morning about the Bulls, stating that players may have to be sold to get the other half million they need to keep afloat. The one player mentioned is second rower John Bateman, with Wire offered as the first choice destination - question is do we need/want him at Warrington?

Personally, I can't say I know anything about him. Anyone any views?

Very good young lad. My only question is do we need yet another backrower?

I've already heard he is nailed on for next year, but how true that is I've no idea.

Bateman is not off contract until the end of next season, so if that is true, you will be paying a fee for him. I'd expect that fee to be 6 figures given how good Bateman is. I think he's easily the most outstanding young forward in Super League at present. Whoever signs him is getting a Sculthorpe-esque signing.

If you believe some of the stuff about Waterhouse on here, yes we do.

Whether the club want him or not - would we have room on the salary cap to sign him? I'd be surprised if we did

salary what?

Who's off contract next season? I imagine if we agreed a deal now for him to come here next season, we'd be able to make enough room.

Me personally, you can't say no to one of the best young players in the league, especially when he plays in a position where you may use 3-5 of them in a game.

Possibly - but what would the RFL rules state about paying a transfer fee for a player 10 months in advance of him switching clubs? (Bradford need the money [inow[/i after all) Also, it would be a hugely risky thing for a business to do, in the intervening time he could suffer a career ending injury while still at Bradford....

Of course, but you run that risk with any player. We signed Myler and Ratchford whilst still playing for Salford, they could have got an injury training or whatever, but that's the risk you run.

I'm unsure what the RFL will say, but if it's anything like football, they shouldn't really have a problem with it. It should/would help Bradford immensely, which is an added bonus for them.

Could you not just buy him now with his salary the same as it is at Bradford (But increasing next season) and loan him back so that the salary cap impact is zero? He officially becomes a Wire player but plays for the Bulls this season.

Ask Moranovitch. Its his money that buys players, not the people on this forum.

You can cover for outcomes like this readily in a contractual agreement.