If we were talking about the starting 13 for the world cup for England, i would go for Heigington. I had the feeling not a lot of fans supported him, maybe becuase of the reason he was playing for us. However i think we should give him another go.

If you were playing a ball playing loose forward, you'd have him defend 3rd or 4th in off the edge anyway, rather than in the middle four.

I see Westerman as a wide running second row, FWIW.

I see your point, yet it would effect a teams shape. If playing a 'pivot' style 13, he would have to defend 3/4 in, next to another pivot. I think it's much, much smarter to go with banks of 4 in defence, middle and two egde's.

I take peoples point of a loose playing on an edge, you'll see Gallen do it a lot at Cronulla down the left, but he'll always be replaced by someone in the middle, more often than not it has been Jeremy Smith over the past couple of years down the counter balance.

For me, a loose forward doesn't need to be a pivot anymore, but should offer an offload. A pre-requisite of a modern day full back is to be a pivot. If a hooker, two halves and a fullback can't pass from one side line to another, why put in another pivot to 'carry' in defence?

i expect brett ferres to go very well at loose forward next season for the giants, played really well back end of last season for us and with a good pre season will go well.
alongside o'donnell and chan.. or lawrence..or ta'ai!! options.

That's pretty much how most teams play now. The third pivot being the fullback, and the loose forward being effectively an extra prop and defending the middle four along with the front row.
If you did have a ball playing loose you wanted to protect in defence, you would swap his defensive spot usually with the right side second row - that's why Chris Joynt used to complain when he had to play on the right

I expect to see many teams start putting their hookers to one of the edge units as we move on, particularly if not carrying a second hooker on the bench.