I was in the company of one of our clubs employees at the Bulls game,and the news he/she told me excited me somewhat,if what they said was in fact true!

I was informed that the Rhinos are buying out Joe Westermans contract from the Tigers and that he will be joining us at the end of this season!

Apparently the offer that the Rhinos have made is too good to turn down for both the Castleford club and for Joe!

Please don't shoot the messenger here, but what do you all think to this if this is true?

What position would he play?

And I'm not asking that to suggest you might be mistaken, it's a genuine question.

bang bang

He was having you on.

ive also heard gaz ellis is coming back too

Stop it - you're just getting silly now.

In all honesty i'd be very surprised because from what i hear he hates Leeds.
It would also point to Ali leaving imo because we have so many back-rowers already.
I maybe wrong but doesn't he play the "Sinfield" role for Cas which would be hard to fit both into the team unless they use joe as an out and out back-rower.
IF it transpires to be true i'd be happy to welcome him but tbh mate i think they are either winding you up or have got their info wrong.

yeah absolutely potty

He plays a lot wider from what i have seen, he doesnt come into first receiver so I cant see why Sinfield and Westerman couldnt fit into the same team....

True or not, one of the things that has really kicked Leeds on over the last few years is the signing of big name British players. Senior, Ellis then Peacock have all had a much bigger impact on the club than most of the overseas signings (big Ali excluded - a fabulous signing).

I'd be happy to see the club sign a quality British player like Westerman. I'd be even happier if we could produce a couple in the next year or two.

I don't see a lot of Castleford but from what I have seen I'd have to bracket Westerman with Shenton over the last couple of seasons. Both have their good games but both can be pretty anonymous too which considering the team they are in would be a concern if there was any truth in the rumour.

Very good player on his day though, when he has them.

Reminds me of the time Leeds had Tawera Nikau's signed contract tucked away in the Headingley safe.

Would probably play second row to replace Ali, which whilst Westerman is a good player I'd be very disappointed to see Ali leave.

A cas fan i was talking to when we were there 2 weeks ago told me westerman was a cert for you men next season.

he also said both you and wigan are chasing shenton.

That has the worry of the Lee Crooks signing ....

Buying someone who was the best player available in his position, but who couldn't stand the sight of blue & amber and who wanted to go back to his beloved Humberside within seconds of getting to Leeds.

It it is true that Westerman is coming, he's going to have to swallow a bitter pill to come play for Leeds or has his quest for honours in the game got the better of him ? In other words, stay at the club he loves and win nowt or have to stand having to play for the team he hates, but with the best chance in Yorkshire of winning stuff on a regular basis.

he's a wide running, right side, back rower.
He's very good at that, but as most sides attack to their left the RHS second row has to do a lot of defending, and despite (or because of) Westerman's high tackle counts, I'm not sure he's up to that if he isn't the featured attacker getting protection in defence.