John Bateman has faced some of the toughest assignments getting around on the footy field, but nothing could prepare him for Australia’s deadly wildlife – that almost cost him his leg.
The incident happened in Perth when the Cowboys were scheduled to play the South Sydney Rabbitohs on April 12 and Bateman was a late scratching.
Now it can be revealed that his absence from the team was because of a spider bite that was so severe, the English international nearly lost his leg.
‘I think it [the spider] was on the field, and it bit me on my leg. I wasn’t too sure what it was, I’ve never had to worry about that before,’ Bateman told NRL.com.
‘I had a rough sleep on Wednesday night, and I literally got rushed to hospital on Thursday morning.
‘It was pretty bad. I was just hot and cold, and my leg from above my knee to beneath my ankle went all red, so I was pretty worried.
John Bateman reveals a spider bite in Perth nearly cost him his leg before a Cowboys game
The English forward was rushed to hospital as his leg turned red and swelled from knee to ankle
Doctors warned Bateman he wouldn’t play that weekend – saving his leg was the immediate priority
‘But when I got into the hospital, I just said to the doctor, ‘just make sure I’m ready for the game on Saturday’.
‘Then on the Friday morning he came back in, because they had taken bloods, and he said, ‘mate, there is no chance of you playing, we’re just looking to save your leg’.’
News quickly got back to the UK where his family, including his daughter Millie, still resides.
‘They were just as shocked as I was, but I was in the best place and it’s a credit to Perth Hospital,’ he said.
‘I got away in one piece, but it was a real ‘welcome to Australia,’ put it that way.’
Bateman began his NRL career in Australia with the Canberra Raiders in 2019, quickly becoming a fan favourite.
Known for his aggressive defence and high work rate, he played a key role in Canberra’s run to the 2019 NRL Grand Final.
After two standout seasons, he returned to the UK in 2021 to rejoin Wigan, citing a desire to be closer to family.
Bateman called it a real “welcome to Australia” moment after the frightening spider bite ordeal
His family back in the UK were shocked by the news but grateful for the care he received, with his daughter Millie (right) joining him in Townsville recently
Bateman remained a dominant force in the Super League before seeking another opportunity in the NRL.
In 2023, he signed with the Wests Tigers, but struggled to find consistency in a struggling side.
Despite his strong individual efforts, the Tigers failed to climb the ladder, and Bateman’s future became uncertain.
By the end of the 2024 season, rumours swirled about a potential move back to Queensland.
The North Queensland Cowboys secured his signature, aiming to bolster their forward pack with his experience.
Bateman spoke about the dramatic change in conditions from Bradford to tropical north Queensland and how he had to adapt – including the deadly wildlife.
‘I got there on January 2 and for a lad from the north of England it was a lot different to where I’m from,’ he said.
‘It’s not really the sun, it’s more the humidity and when you’re running you just get fatigued quick. It’s really tough, it zaps the energy out of you and I think it’s so hard to actually get fit in the heat.
‘When you get to a certain point, you can normally push through it anywhere else in the world, but because of the humidity it just literally takes it all out of you and you can’t continue running.
‘I’m sure every other player that’s played up in Townsville will vouch for that. You’ve just got to get used to it.’
Bateman also backed under-fire coach Todd Payten, who has come under scrutiny as the Cowboys crashed out of finals contention despite boasting a strong roster including a host of internationals and State of Origin representatives.
‘Todd is pretty straight down the line like some of the other coaches I’ve had – Shaun Wane, Wayne Bennett, and Ricky Stuart. He tells you how it is so you know where you stand and I like that,’ Bateman said.
