Westerman was a good signing. He was good for us, proper 13 he just didn't seem to settle and we were in a transitional period. I thought he was out best player in an awfully performing team for a spell, I think he gave up on us at that point. If he was as professional as he could be he'd have been one ofthe best 13s superleague has seen IMO. I think the biggest problem with the Westerman signing was timing. If he'd have come to us early TS years, say when Louis left things could have been very different for him and maybe us.

Under Higham I meant. All got forgotten post PH.

In reply to SC's post. It's not just Warrington where recruitment has not matched the quality of previous squads. However, we ought to have done better, and must try harder.

Westerman would have struggled to get first team opportunities in the early TS years, he wasn't as good as Westwood, Harrison or Grix.

He's the classic example of a player with enough talent to be tolerated in a team of nearly men, but who would not have lasted long at the top teams. Can you imagine him fitting in to a Brian McDermott or Shaun Wane team ethos?

He definitely had the talent though. I'm sure Tony Smith and the playing group we had (Morley in particular) would have got the best from him. You're right though we didn't need him at the time. Grix was as good a player I've seen at 13 in a wire shirt.

Westerman was ANOTHER Tony Smith vanity project.

YPotY at Cas. Hull sign him, career plateaus.
We spend a big wadge of cash on him, and Wire fans convince themselves he's the [ireal deal[/i, by posting on here, straight after the match "great game from Westerman, today", when all he did, was Jason Clark's job, a few years early. Nothing special.

Our only saving grace, was [ipulling Toronto's pants down[/i over a transfer fee, a couple of years later. Best bit of business the club did in years

Sorry Or Thane .... somehow missed your post.

Looks like you had a similar view on Westerman to me. I always thought there was a bit of Emperors New Clothes about him. Sometimes with these players who have talent, but seem to be prone to being distracted off the field, a narrative can develop that overrates their talent...."if only he applied himself he could be the next Sculthorpe..." If Westerman had the perfect attitude how good would he have been? I'd be surprised if he was better than Ben Harrison.

Then confirmation bias kicks in as people look for reasons to justify their prior opinion. If a player has a half decent game, it is seen as vindication. Look at how RD fawns over Patton if he has an average game. It has happened with Ben Currie now for some fans who are desperate to convince themselves that he is back to being the player he was. Like you say, our fans used to do that with Westerman.

He had some good games, but he was never like a Zak Hardaker or Chris Sandow where you would see the glimpses of genius to support the tragic "if only he had his head screwed on" narrative. I think Westerman benefited from having good seasons early on when he first emerged, which meant he established hype around himself which probably secured him some big moves later on when clubs held out hope they were getting more than he could deliver.

One of the things I enjoy about Roy Keane's punditry in football is he sees straight through these false narratives about players who people claim are flawed genuises (Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere). Keane likes rugby league so I wonder what he'd have to say about Westerman...

Genuine question, if Widdop is struggling to find a team and doesn't get one for next season, can we honestly see him just plodding on here until something comes up?
If his mind is elsewhere and wants to leave would that just be a complete waste?

Correct. Don't know what happened but the Westerman who so impressed in early days at Cas was clearly NOT the same Westerman who played for Hull, or for Wire.

No I don’t think that’s a reflection of his character. ie. whilst contracted to Wire, he wouldn’t be drawn on any chat but his focus on St GI when still their player and skipper.

Josh Reynolds Is headed to Hull FC which frees up 500k on our Salary cap at the Tigers, we need a new half at the and may very well make a play for Widdop.
If so that would free up a Quota spot and a wedge of money for us here, i think Karl said they have a back up plan if Widdop leaves but unless we can grab Sezer i genuinely can't figure out who we would make a play for in the halves?