Joe Westerman

[JIN JER]

He'll go alright for us.

[Hepworth7]

Confirmed 2 year deal at Wakefield.

[lurcher]

He'll go alright for us.

not being funny jinj mate but what do you mean by alright?
it seems the loyal wakey fans have slipped into the "he'll do alright mode" which for me means you are willing to accept mediocrity and avoiding relegation as success.
i know all the excuses/reasons that MC makes for only spending what you can afford but it was noticeable late in the season that he splashed the cash on signings to keep you up. i just wonder where you would have finished if he had spent the cash earlier.
anyway good luck for next year with tj back plus all the other absentee's

[JIN JER]

It's a Wakefield thing Lurcher, we got giddy up till our horrific injuries then ended the season panicking!
Regarding the alright bit, I can't imagine he'll get back to his Cas form but think he'll do a good job for us. I'm a pessimist ok?

[heritage1926]

At 18, everyone said he was the next Paul Sculthorpe/Andy Farrell and would be captaining his country in years to come. I don't blame him for leaving us when he did, we were in an absolute mess and he was in demand, but going to Hull seemed to suck all the rugby and natural talent out of him, as well as a fruitful social life that was never tamed.

[mart0042]

I think it's fair to say that if Cas were in for him, that was his last chance to come back. I don't know if he was in the mix to come back but believe that he could have had an uplift in form like watts returning.

Arguably his last contract, hope its a good one that makes him happy.

[tigerfeat]

I think it's fair to say that if Cas were in for him, that was his last chance to come back. I don't know if he was in the mix to come back but believe that he could have had an uplift in form like watts returning.

Arguably his last contract, hope its a good one that makes him happy.

I agree with this don't know if we offered him a deal he would have done well back at Cas
Not sure how well he will go at Wakey I can see that team struggling more than this season next time around

[Flat Capper]

At 18, everyone said he was the next Paul Sculthorpe/Andy Farrell and would be captaining his country in years to come. I don't blame him for leaving us when he did, we were in an absolute mess and he was in demand, but going to Hull seemed to suck all the rugby and natural talent out of him, as well as a fruitful social life that was never tamed.

I agree with that, another talented player ruined by Radders' one man, powerhouse rugby.

[HuddsTigers]

At 18, everyone said he was the next Paul Sculthorpe/Andy Farrell and would be captaining his country in years to come. I don't blame him for leaving us when he did, we were in an absolute mess and he was in demand, but going to Hull seemed to suck all the rugby and natural talent out of him, as well as a fruitful social life that was never tamed.

We sold him off our own back as we needed to pay for planning permission for the Waystone version of the new stadium. The money went straight to WMDC. Or so the story was at the time.

[cogito ergo sum]

One year Joe was on the cover of a RL magazine, voted young player of the year both here and in Oz. Never really reached the heights which that accolade indicated.
In that same poll, Richard Owen was top five.

[duke street 10]

I was told he was very keen to come back to Cas, not sure if we offered him a deal or whether he was asking for too much money..

[The Fox]

Joe, was in my opinion, ruined by Terry Matterson.

Throughout his school and junior rugby he had always played as a old style loose forward - where he was constantly voted as the best player of his age group. When he broke into the Cas first team, TM played him as a right side second rower, he never was and never would be second rower, he had so much more to give than that, but TM drilled it out of him.

[Sharlotiger]

Joe, was in my opinion, ruined by Terry Matterson.

Throughout his school and junior rugby he had always played as a old style loose forward - where he was constantly voted as the best player of his age group. When he broke into the Cas first team, TM played him as a right side second rower, he never was and never would be second rower, he had so much more to give than that, but TM drilled it out of him.

Having watched Joe throughout his junior rugby I totally agree with you, he always looked like being a natural 13.

[Flat Capper]

Is there such a thing as a talented loose these days. They all seem to be the third second rower at best.

[The Fox]

Is there such a thing as a talented loose these days. They all seem to be the third second rower at best.

Quite agree there is no such thing, simply referred to as one of the middle unit, ie another prop. Bit of a waste for me, always loved to see a good ball handling loose forward. I was desperate to be one as a kid, to copy Malcolm Reilly and Steve Norton. But wasn’t to be.

[TheSheriff]

He was looking for north of 100k a year, would not be shocked if Wakey were the only club willing to give him that.

Hull weren't willing, Hull KR weren't and neither were Cas....because he isn't worth that.

[Mysterio]

Couldn’t we have got some dispensation for his salary though? Ie only 75k counted.
He is worth 75k if we’re splitting hairs building a winning team for the sake of 25k which wouldn’t even count on our SC.

[Juscas]

It would still come out of the bank tho and if true I agree it’s a lot for another average joe

[43s flyer]

Can't be much left of the loan from the council with all the signings.