In April 2011, at the age of 17 years and 208 days old Bateman made his Super League début starting at Lock for the Bradford Bulls in an 8–8 draw against Catalans Dragons.[5] In May 2011, he made his first Challenge Cup appearance for the club against Halifax. He made two more first-team appearances towards the end of the season and scored his first Super League try against Wigan Warriors.[6]
2012 season
Bateman featured in Round 1 (Catalans Dragons). He missed Rounds 2–3 due to injury. He featured in six consecutive games from Round 4 (Wakefield Trinity) to Round 9 (Hull F.C.). Bateman was suspended for rounds 10 and 11. John returned in Round 12 (Huddersfield Giants). Bateman was suspended for Rounds 13–14. He returned to play in six consecutive games from Round 15 (Leeds Rhinos) to Round 20 (London Broncos). Bateman missed Rounds 21–24 due to England Academy commitments. Bateman returned for Round 25 (Huddersfield Giants). John was injured in Rounds 26–27. He featured in the Challenge Cup against Doncaster and Warrington Wolves. Bateman scored against Hull F.C. (1 try), Doncaster (1 try) and Castleford Tigers (1 try).
Bateman signed with the Canberra Raiders for 2019 and 2020, with a third-year option in his favour, on 8 August 2018. In round 19 of the 2019 NRL season against the Penrith Panthers, Bateman scored a try in the dying minutes to seal a 30-18 victory for the visitors away from home. The win cemented Canberra's position in the top 4 of the competition.
At the end of the 2019 regular season, Canberra finished 4th on the table and qualified for the finals. In the qualifying final against Melbourne, Bateman scored the winning try with just 3 minutes remaining. Canberra staged an upset victory at AAMI Park winning 12-10 and securing a home preliminary final. In the preliminary final against South Sydney, Bateman played at second-row as Canberra won the match 16-10 at Canberra Stadium and qualified for their first grand final in 25 years.[18][19] On 2 October, Bateman was named as the 2019 Dally M second-rower of the year at the Dally M Awards ceremony.[20]
In February, it was revealed that Bateman would miss the first six weeks of the 2020 NRL season after undergoing shoulder surgery.[24]
On 31 June, it was announced that he would be departing the Canberra Raiders at the end of the season, With NRL Club, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs And His former side, The Wigan Warriors interested in his services.
Bateman played 11 games for Canberra in the 2020 NRL season. He featured in all three of Canberra's finals matches, including Melbourne's preliminary final loss. After the game had concluded, a visibly emotional Bateman thanked everyone at Canberra and stated it would be hard to leave the club.[25]
2021
In August 2021, it was revealed that Bateman had been involved in a fistfight with then-Canberra player Curtis Scott. The incident was not reported to
the police and the matter was sorted behind closed doors but the story came to light after Scott's termination by the Canberra club.[26]
Re-Joining Wigan
In July 2020, it was announced that Bateman would rejoin Wigan for the 2021 season.[27]
2021
In round 20 of the 2021 Super League season, Bateman was sent to the sin bin twice in Wigan's 26-2 loss against St Helens.[28]
2022
In the 2022 semi-final, Bateman was sent off for a dangerous high tackle on former teammate Aiden Sezer during the club's shock defeat to Leeds.[29]
Wests Tigers
On 26 December, Bateman left Wigan to sign a four-year deal with the NRL club Wests Tigers for 2023.[30]
In round 3 of the 2023 NRL season, Bateman made his long-awaited club debut for the Wests Tigers in their 26-22 loss against Canterbury at Belmore Sports Ground.[31] He played in 20 games, leading Wests Tigers in offloads, with the 14th most in the NRL. He also led the club in tackles made.
[32]
The club would finish bottom of the table in 2023 and claim their second Wooden Spoon.[33]
On 14 May 2024, it was announced that Bateman would miss up to 8-10 weeks with a pectoral injury which he suffered during the clubs narrow loss to Newcastle in round 10 of the 2024 NRL season.[34] On 23 July 2024, Bateman joined the Warrington Wolves on loan for the remainder of the 2024 season.[35]
Warrington Wolves (loan)
On 24 July 2024 it was reported that he had signed for Warrington in the Super League on season-long loan.[36]
International career
In 2012, Bateman was named captain of the England Academy squad to tour Australia.
Bateman made his England test début against France in October 2015.
After an outstanding Super League 2015 season, Bateman was selected in the senior England team for their test series against New Zealand. Bateman made his début for England in a test matchArchived 26 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine, before the series, against France which saw Bateman score two tries in England's rout of their opponents. For his outstanding efforts in the game, Bateman was awarded man-of-the-match.[37]
In October 2016, Bateman was selected in the England 24-man squad for the 2016 Four Nations.