HAVING overseen their development in Bradford's youth system, Bulls coach Leigh Beattie was delighted to see Jake Trueman and John Bateman up for prizes at rugby league's Man of Steel awards.

Wigan Warriors man Bateman just missed out to St Helens' Ben Barba for the top prize, but Castleford Tigers half-back Trueman picked up the young player of the year crown.

Beattie believes the former West Bowling teenager can reach the pinnacle of rugby league, saying: "The world is Jake's oyster now.

"He can go on to achieve a lot in the sport and I think getting the call from England is going to come next. He's an immense talent."

Referring to Trueman's development, Beattie remembered: "Castleford have brought him up in the last couple of years, but we had him from a very young age at Bulls.

"He didn't have everything. He had the skill but he's had to put in a lot of hard work alongside his coaches to help him get where he is. He's matured far more quickly than we expected though which is brilliant."

Beattie could not hide his disappointment that 25-year-old back-rower Bateman - who like Trueman is from Bradford - was not the recipient of the main award, saying: "I thought John would get it.

"His work rate and consistency at Wigan this year has been outstanding so I thought he was really unlucky to miss out to Ben Barba.

"John's always had talent. He's not the biggest but he's naturally strong. He's a good lad who's worked extremely hard in his career."

Wigan will lose Bateman's services at the end of this season though, as he has agreed a transfer to NRL side Canberra Raiders on a two-year deal.

Asked about how Bateman would cope with the challenge of playing out in Australia, Beattie enthused: "He'll do well in the NRL.

"He's already got Elliott Whitehead out there at the Raiders, who's another Bradford lad, so it'll be an easy transition for him."

Alongside Bateman and Whitehead in Canberra will be fellow England international Josh Hodgson, as well as Bateman's former Wigan team-mate Ryan Sutton, so there will be plenty of familiar faces, despite him being on the other side of the world.