Given the current climate at the club I just can’t see rumours of Bateman being offered Marquee money as realistic.
Good player loads of heart tough as they come and totally committed. Worthy of Marquee status? Absolutely not.
I think that we haven’t had a top quality backrow in the squad since Hoffman’s spell with us clouds people’s judgement of his ability.
Decent player without doubt but putting it in perspective Isa probably an underwhelming signing but a good pro, Farrell poor, Tomkins poor, relatively speaking in that company I think his ability is somewhat magnified.