You know how sometimes when you explain your problem to someone else and suddenly figure out the problem because you’ve been forced to go over the details? 
While reviewing my post I noticed this line in my game mode constructor:
GameStateClass = ANetworkTestGameMode::StaticClass();
Changing it to the state type just sorted out my problems!
GameStateClass = ANetworkTestGameState::StaticClass();
I guess this is what happens when you dont really understand a line, I pulled this from the shooter example does anybody know whats actually being set here? Is it the default Game State? Same as in the editor?