Bradford-born forward has just enjoyed a fine debut season with Canberra Raiders and now he is focused on winning four Tests from four with Great BritainAuckland is about as far away from Bradford as you can get in every sense, but early on Saturday morning a small corner of the West Yorkshire city will be shunning a lie-in to meet up and watch one of their own fulfil a childhood dream on the other side of the world when Great
Britain face Tonga. This has been a year to remember for John Bateman but even while establishing himself as one of the world’s best rugby league players, the forward has never forgotten his humble roots.
“It’s all pretty mad for a lad from Bradford,” laughs Bateman on the eve of his Great Britain debut. The 26-year-old had been tipped for the top ever since he emerged as a teenager at his hometown club eight years ago, but even by those standards this has been some rise.