NRL Grand Final: John Bateman misses Raiders training run
Canberra star John Bateman has been quarantined from teammates with a virus but the Raiders insist he is not in doubt for Sunday's NRL grand final.
Bateman didn't train with Canberra on Thursday, however powerful centre Joseph Leilua did as he continues to recover from a calf injury for the season decider with the Sydney Roosters.
"The main thing is to get (John) healthy. But from what I saw this morning there will be no dramas," Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said.
Just days ago, teammate and club favourite Josh Hodgson was also forced into quarantine by a virus.
John Bateman, Josh Hodgson Getty
He was cleared to take his his place for the final media commitment of the week on Thursday, with quarantine precautions no longer necessary ahead of Sunday's Grand Final.
"We thought we might have had to with Hodgo, but they passed him to travel with us so that was ok," Stuart told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"(Lauging) We try to quarantine the Poms as much as we can."
On Tuesday, Bateman revealed he could ask for a release from the Raiders if he couldn't secure a contract upgrade.
Raiders down Storm in finals AAP
Signed with the Raiders until the end of 2021, Bateman is in the first-year of a three-year stint in the NRL before he is due to return to Wigan in the English Super League.
The Englishman has become something of a cult hero at Canberra, getting through a ton of work on the edge and is the front-runner for the Dally M second-rower of the year.
However he told NRL.com on Tuesday he could try to consider other offers if the Raiders can't improve on his deal of around $400,000 per season.
-with AAP
