Picture the grit and resilience of James Graham and the all-powerful running game and ball-playing skills of Anthony Watmough combined into one beast.

Sounds like an indestructible weapon that even Kim Jong-un would be afraid of.

Fortunately for the Raiders, it's ready to launch from the nation's capital.

MORE: The NRL Lurker: Parramatta Eels sounding out Kyle amid Shane Flanagan drama

Rugby league great Michael Ennis has only travelled to Canberra a handful of times in his new role as a coaching consultant for the club, but their shiny new toy in John Bateman has already caught his eye.

Still a mystery to most NRL fans, Ennis has tipped Bateman to be the breakout player of the season, expecting him to win fans over with a unique game style that had unrivaled success overseas.

‘’He’s a guy that I’ve really enjoyed watching in the Super League and he’s a guy that reminds me so much of James Graham, not so much in stature, but he’s one of those guys that no matter who you support, you can’t help but fall in love because he’s someone that just gives so much to their club and team,’’ Ennis told Sporting News.

‘’John is the ultimate competitor and while not many people know about him now, come September he’ll be the player that a lot of people have enjoyed in the NRL.''

Bateman is on track to start at lock in Canberra's season opener against Gold Coast, despite missing the club's two pre-season trials with a side strain.

In the modern game, locks are predominantly a metre-making forward responsible for a high workload through the middle.

But Bateman offers a special ingredient, according to Ennis, that will really wind back the clock and revisit a traditional element to the position.

‘’Someone like John in that middle area of the field and roving around – he’s almost like that lock we’ve forgotten about,'' Ennis said.

‘’You think of guys back in the day like your Nik Kosef's that were able to ball-play but also get through long minutes and were really physical through that middle third. I think John brings that to the Raiders.

‘’I know he’s come over here not to just make up the numbers. He wants to really show he can prove himself in the NRL.

‘’He’s a guy that can get across the field really well. He’s got good leg speed and good vision. We remember guys like Anthony Watmough who used to be able to get in and use that extra leg speed and use that ball-playing to cause havoc. I think John is in that similar mould.’’

Standing at 185cm and 96kg, Bateman isn't your typical build for the No.13 jersey compared to the monstrous Jason Taumalolo who weighs in at 117kg and 191cm.

But you can't measure heart and courage in numbers, and that's what Canberra skipper Josh Hodgson believes separates his compatriot from the rest.

‘’When you look at him as a loose forward you think ‘there’s not much on him to play in the middle’, but he’s got this weird strength about him. I think it’s because he’s half gypsie,’’ Hodgson chuckled.

‘’He’s got that real competitive edge where he doesn’t want to get beat and doesn’t want to get put down. No matter what minute it is, he will give his best for you.

‘’When you’ve got a bloke in your side like that with that competitive streak that runs through him, I think it’s going to be good for us.

‘’Skill-wise he’s really strong with the ball in his hand and that will add something to our dimensions as opposed to the big boppers we’ve had in the past five years.’’

Equipped with more quality forwards then they can handle, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is still drawing up his best strategy with Josh Papalii, Elliott Whitehead, Joe Tapine and Bateman all capable of playing in the back-row.

Hodgson revealed Stuart has been training them in various positions and was still unsure of his how to best utilise his stocks.

‘’It’s a nice luxury to have because we’ve played Elliott (Whitehead) in the middle two or three times and every time he’s played there he’s won man of the match,’’ he saids.

‘’Then Joe Tapine when he comes on in the middle and the defence is pretty tired he goes good because he’s a big strong thing.

‘’We’ve got the option that if you start one at loose forward, you can rotate them throughout the game or leave them as they are if they are going well.

‘’I don’t even think we’ve figured it out yet but we will get there eventually.’’