John Bateman shares picture of him working as labourer while NRL season on hold

John Bateman spent a day working as a labourer as the NRL players continue their hiatus from the game.
John Bateman has not played this year because of a shoulder injury. Picture: John Bateman TwitterJohn Bateman has not played this year because of a shoulder injury. Picture: John Bateman Twitter
John Bateman has not played this year because of a shoulder injury. Picture: John Bateman Twitter

The former Warriors forward posted a picture of himself on social media after a shift grafting, when he helped a friend strip roofs.

"Not officially on the tools, but I've come to do a little bit of work for one of my mates, just helping him out," Bateman told the Canberra Times.

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NRL players, including his Canberra and former Wigan team-mates Ryan Sutton and George Williams, have been stood down as they wait to discover when the season may resume.

The rugby league players' association has reached an agreement with the NRL about a pay cut during the coronavirus pandemic.

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg has since said he will take the same pay deal as the players in a show of solidarity, rather than the 25 per cent deduction the other executives accepted.

Bateman admits the uncertainty is concerning - and also shone the spotlight on the NRL's management.

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"The game that supposedly claims to be a billion-dollar game and the money they've got in it," said Bateman.

"Obviously everyone in the world is in the same position, but everyone else in the world the boss doesn't claim that it's billion dollar and it turns out that it's not being run right.

"It should have never come to this. It's scary times. There's kids in a lot worse positions and they'll have to find a job. In this day and age it's not easy to just click your fingers and get a job is it."

He admitted he had a teary exchange with his daughter, who still lives in Bradford and was supposed to be visiting Australia next week during the Easter holidays.

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"We both had a little cry with each other to be fair. It's just hard," Bateman said.

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