Are Westerman and Watts not as close anymore?
Just a comment I noticed in Wilfs post.

Still best mates.

Aren't they now brothers in law as well? Bit strange signing one when we've sacked other one for being a div.

Can't quite work it out.
I'm sure Radders knows what he's doing?!

we can only wait and see, hope he proves Lee right.

Dont get the negativity around the Westerman signing.
Always thought he would make a good wide running second row.
Good defence,get his pace back and a good signing if we use him correctly.
Not interested in the ball playing Westerman i want to see him running at defences wide out.

you mean people being a little concerned we sold him Wire sold him and Toronto have given him away?

A fair point but then you could also point out that Warrington and Toronto both paid a six figure transfer fee and awarded him a 2/3 year contract on presumably big bucks. We're paying him a cut price deal for six months with the onus on him to impress and earn a contract longer term.

Indeed, which is why I say "wait and see", everyone deserves a second chance, hope he grasps it...

I think it’s a smart deal for you. He does not have the benefit of a long term contract so it’s up to him to perform. If he is successful you can reward him with a decent contract. If he fails after this who will want him, certainly no decent super league clubs will be interested. When he puts his mind to it he is a decent player, personally I think he will go well.

I think his wife is expecting another baby, so perhaps this was a factor in wanting to leave Toronto? I do think it's a low risk signing, a trial with an option in our favour at low cost for a coach he want to work with. As stated already I don't think he's best suited as a middle player for us but replacing a wider player could add something to the squad where we are likely to lose two if not 3 senior back rowers this year.

Why would people be concerned we sold him to Warrington?
If he had been a problem at the club i dont think Radford or Pearson would welcome him back.
We dont know why Warrington sold him or why Toronto released him but in both cases there is nothing that says Westerman has had any sort of disciplinary problem at the clubs.
Good piece of business for me.Where can you find a forward of Westermans quality and experience without paying a fee and at a reduced wage according to the reports

Can he play Stand Off

When he left us for wire it coincided with Tony Smith signing a load of other e like Kevin Brown and they went downhill fast but i remember wire fans saying he was one of their better players.

I still dont get why weve signed Watts best mate but were potentially gonna lose Washy, Mini and Manu so getting Westerman on board now even to replace Washy takes pressure off as we will now only have two new back rowers to find. Seems strange at first but in an ever increasingly difficult market for getting new quality players in it actually seems good business

The quotes from our CEO were quite telling when we sold him. He referenced the need to enhance the culture of the playing group. He was a disruptive influence in the group and spent far too long on the beer by all accounts. It seems he hasn’t changed since his move to Toronto - not helped by some of the other characters they had there no doubt.

Not a risk free signing for you even till the end of the season because of this.

Our drop is really tight and one of the main reasons Watts was sold, if he steps out of line, he won't be at Hull anymore. Hopefully him and Watts see this as a last chance.

The Toronto set up seems a bit of a shambles, no real base, they sign and release players on a monthly basis, I think a lot of it stems from Rowley, who is a strange character,

Our squad is now stronger and we have potentially a very good SL player on our books.

That was the year after, in his first season, they won the league and made the GF and CC final. Think he played well in his time at Warrington, certainly in his first year. I think his ego should have taken a knock having to take a paycut, if he knuckles down he will be a very good signing.

Westerman was better than Ellis in 2016 and should have been in the dream team at No.13, IF we can get him at that level and use him correctly then he will be a very good asset.
We await to see what happens but I don't see us changing how we play to utilise Westerman's strengths
All things considered, mid season it was pretty much the best we could do.

So you know more about the game than he professionals that play it, as around 1/4 of them voted Ellis as the MOS? www.rugby-league.com/article/386 ... n-of-steel Or more than the journalists who voted Ellis in the dream team over Westerman? So that's Lineham and Westerman better than Ellis and Fonua. Kevin Brown better than Kelly?

So you know more about the game than he professionals that play it, as around 1/4 of them voted Ellis as the MOS? www.rugby-league.com/article/386 ... n-of-steel Or more than the journalists who voted Ellis in the dream team over Westerman? So that's Lineham and Westerman better than Ellis and Fonua. Kevin Brown better than Kelly?

Quote ="Dave K."So you know more about the game than he professionals that play it, as around 1/4 of them voted Ellis as the MOS? www.rugby-league.com/article/386 ... n-of-steel Or more than the journalists who voted Ellis in the dream team over Westerman? So that's Lineham and Westerman better than Ellis and Fonua. Kevin Brown better than Kelly?'" don't feed the troll, Bumpy is just pathetic.

Quote ="Dave K."So you know more about the game than he professionals that play it, as around 1/4 of them voted Ellis as the MOS? www.rugby-league.com/article/386 ... n-of-steel Or more than the journalists who voted Ellis in the dream team over Westerman? So that's Lineham and Westerman better than Ellis and Fonua. Kevin Brown better than Kelly?'" don't feed the troll, Bumpy is just pathetic.

Quote ="Dave K."So you know more about the game than he professionals that play it, as around 1/4 of them voted Ellis as the MOS? www.rugby-league.com/article/386 ... n-of-steel Or more than the journalists who voted Ellis in the dream team over Westerman? So that's Lineham and Westerman better than Ellis and Fonua. Kevin Brown better than Kelly?'" A popularity contest proves nothing and pro sports people are the worst for it. 2016 Westerman was superb, Ellis had a good season for the games he played which was 37% fewer than Westerman (9 numerically) but wasn't as good IMHO. Lineham isn't better than Ellis as you're comparing apples and oranges, Fonua is a better attacker than Lineham, Lineham far superior defensively as I said. Dream team wingers aren't picked on their defensive/overall capabilities and Fonua was fully deserving of his spot in 2016. HTH

Quote ="Dave K."So you know more about the game than he professionals that play it, as around 1/4 of them voted Ellis as the MOS? www.rugby-league.com/article/386 ... n-of-steel Or more than the journalists who voted Ellis in the dream team over Westerman? So that's Lineham and Westerman better than Ellis and Fonua. Kevin Brown better than Kelly?'" A popularity contest proves nothing and pro sports people are the worst for it. 2016 Westerman was superb, Ellis had a good season for the games he played which was 37% fewer than Westerman (9 numerically) but wasn't as good IMHO. Lineham isn't better than Ellis as you're comparing apples and oranges, Fonua is a better attacker than Lineham, Lineham far superior defensively as I said. Dream team wingers aren't picked on their defensive/overall capabilities and Fonua was fully deserving of his spot in 2016. HTH

Lee Radford has strong words about it, and Garry Schofield has his say in League Express later. Can hardly wait.