Wigan Warriors have been handed a major boost ahead of Wednesday's Super League clash with Leeds Rhinos after John Bateman won his appeal against a one-match suspension.
Bateman was suspended by the Rugby Football League's disciplinary panel on Monday after being charged with foul and abusive langauge towards a match official during last weekend's defeat to St Helens.
He was given a one-game ban, ruling him out of the game against the Rhinos on Wednesday. However, Wigan contested the appeal at a hearing on Tuesday evening and were successful in the eyes of an independent tribunal, meaning Bateman is now free to be involved against Richard Agar's side.
It is a huge boost for the Warriors, who will still be without Willie Isa as he begins a four-match suspension, and the likes of long-term injury victims Thomas Leuluai and Bevan French.
Bateman was sin-binned twice during Friday's loss to the reigning champions - once in each half. He was shown a yellow card following an altercation with St Helens' James Bentley that saw him also sent to the sin-bin.
Bateman was then given a second yellow card after showing dissent to Chris Kendall in the 50th minute of the match, the incident which led to his Grade A charge.
But Wigan and Bateman have been successful in having that overturned, giving Lam a big help on the selection front.
