Bradford Bulls could be without rising star John Bateman for up to four matches after he was charged with dangerous play.

The 18-year-old forward, an academy international who is thought to be attracting interest from Warrington, is accused of a grade D dangerous tackle on full-back Brett Hodgson during the Bulls' 32-16 Carnegie Challenge Cup defeat by the Wolves on April 28.
Bateman was not penalised for the challenge that left Hodgson crumpled in a heap but referee James Child placed the incident on report and the Rugby Football League's match-review panel have decided to charge him.
The panel felt the Bradford player "forcefully applied unnecessary pressure to the head and/or neck and/or spinal column of his opponent so as to keep the tackled player at a disadvantage in or after the tackle".
Bateman will appear before the RFL's disciplinary committee in Leeds on Tuesday with the prospect of a three or four match-ban if found guilty.













