by Ross Heppenstall

BOYHOOD Bulls fan John Bateman grew up watching his hometown club win Grand Finals at Old Trafford – now he is aiming to lift the trophy himself.

The Bradford lad has proved an outstanding success since the Bulls sold him to Wigan at the end of the 2013 campaign.

Bateman went for around £70,000 – a ludicrously cheap price for a player who had already captained England in Australia the year before.

With every game Bateman plays, that fee looks an absolute steal as the 22-year-old has emerged as one of the best players in Super League this year.

His two tries capped a man-of-the-match display in last week’s play-off semi-final home win over Huddersfield and, having lost to St Helens in last season’s Grand Final, Bateman is desperate go one better this time around.

The back-rower, who has proved a hit in the centres this term, said: “We got there last season but we lost and we want to put that right this year.

“Leeds are a great side and being a Bradford lad it’s always good to play against them.

“This is a Grand Final, though, and the biggest game I’ve ever had with Leeds.

“I went to two or three Grand Finals to watch the Bulls with my family when I was a young lad growing up as a Bradford fan.

“I’m used to watching other people do it on television, so to be that person doing it is unbelievable really.

“It’s just about going out and doing your best, and if it happens it happens.

“This is why I came here – to play in games like this. We’ve got a great opportunity, especially with the way we’ve been playing, and hopefully I can win my first piece of silverware.”

During his time at Bradford and Wigan, Bateman has clashed with retiring Leeds legend Jamie Peacock.

The 22-year-old has got under Peacock’s skin but Bateman also has plenty of respect for the former Bulls star, who is already the most decorated player in the game and is now seeking a ninth Grand Final winners’ ring.

Bateman said: “It’s been pretty strange because I watched Jamie Peacock play for Bradford and he was one of my heroes.

“I’ve had some good tussles with him for Bradford and Wigan and to play against him in a Grand Final will hopefully be another great battle.

“He wants to win and I want to win, so we’ll both be doing our utmost to achieve that.

“I don’t really speak to him that much away from rugby but I will chat to him after Saturday’s game.

“When you retire, you want to be remembered for what you have achieved in the game and Peacock has surpassed everyone else.

“It’s fantastic what he has achieved and I’d love to enjoy that sort of success in my own career.

“Growing up as a Bradford fan, there were plenty of people in that great Bulls team who I looked up to and Peacock was certainly one of them.”

Bateman’s daughter Mille turns six today and he admits she is his driving force to succeed.

He was 15 when he was told he was going to be a father and says it turned out to the best thing that has ever happened to him.

Bateman said: “If I hadn't had Millie at such a young age I really don't know what I'd be doing now.

“I look at some of my old mates who I used to knock about with and some of them are locked up.

“I could have gone either way, but having Millie made get my head down and focus on my rugby, so I was fortunate.

“I remember the day I couldn't go to school because I had to go and see my little girl being born. I can't believe she's now six. Time flies.”

Millie lives with her mother in Bradford but she attends all her dad’s rugby matches and is his biggest fan.

Bateman said: “I see her all the time and she comes to all my games.

“I'm not too sure if she watches, but she's always there!

“She gets kids at school asking her about rugby but she just looks at me as her dad.

“I'm now able to give her the best shot at life and for me that's a dream come true.”

Bateman’s bond with his daughter might deter him from ever following former Bradford team-mate Elliott Whitehead in making a move Down Under to the NRL.

But he said: “Australia is obviously the other side of the world but I probably would want to go at some point.

“The option was there when I was younger but I never took it up because I didn’t feel like I wanted to go then.

“But I’m getting older and have already made one big move by leaving Bradford and going to Wigan.

“At the moment, I’m happy at Wigan as I’ve bought my own house over here and have a great set of mates with all the rugby lads.

“I think that maturity has come with the responsibility of moving over to Wigan and buying my own place.

“That’s one of the main reasons I went – to grow up – and it has been good for me.

“This is my second Grand Final in as many seasons at the club. We just need to win it now.”