The man credited with giving the Canberra Raiders premiership-contending mongrel will return to the NRL next year after signing a four-year deal at a "club I know is going places".
John Bateman has finalised a four-year deal to play for the Wests Tigers next year, ending months of speculation about his future and a likely return to Australia.
The international star gave the Raiders a hard edge and played a key role in helping the club get to the grand final in 2019 and a preliminary final in 2020 before his acrimonious departure.