Yes I heard he had not hit it off with a couple of senior members of the squad, but then again I heard a few others are also not too keen on the same couple of senior members, maybe all just gossip who knows.

Long & Radford I heard.

Not sure about names no names mentioned as such, just said a couple of senior members.

I have it on very good authority that Westerman was never 'Agar's man'!

The Hethrington's wanted him when it was clear he was available and this sudden change of direction derailed Agar's attempts to recruit a halfback.

Aware of some of the off-field problems which have plagued Joe over the past two years, I understand that the club have insisted that he moves out of Castleford, but I am not sure if this has happened yet!

Tricky one this, seen nothing to see he's any better playing at 2nd row than Burnett, and personally I don't think he's particularly stood out in his brief showing in other positions. I think it's accurate to say we've paid for potential that's not quite been realized yet. Hopefully, it's still there to tap into.

Doesn't surprise me one bit.

me either......

You've met them both as well then?

NO, HAVE YOU?

rule and kath I meant, not gary.

Any suggestion that Agar did not want Westerman is very far from the mark. Anybody who has ever spoken to Joe will know that the kid, whilst a bit naive and possibly has a touch of arrogance (needed to become a great player IMO), is certainly honest. He knew Rich personally and Rich was the driving force behind bringing him in, it wasn't something that just happened overnight and was a long drawn out process. He nearly went to North Queensland Cowboys last year instead and we were in talks with him at that point too. Ultimately he didn't want to move that far away from his little girl and that is why we won the race.

Joe is the first to admit that he has had issues over the last year, what 20 year old wouldn't have had though who was going through a break up with the mother of his child?

Joe Westerman has the ability to be a stand out palyer for many a year at Hull FC and I am sure that the club will do everything in its power to help him. 3 games in is not the time to judge him, there is doom and gloom surrounding everything at the minute and people ready to spout rubbish just to push their anti Agar points. I personally believe that Rich does lack the personality and media awareness to make a really top level coach but he does have a very good rugby league brain and used correctly is an asset to the club. Perhaps a case of being promoted beyond his capabilities, who knows really? Having said all of that to suggest that he does not have a significant say regards to recruitment and that in this instance he wasn't the driving factor is just plain wrong!

It's what happens when you only have a handful of creative players. They either get identified and closed down too easily by the opposition, or they try riskier plays because of the lack of good options. If we had 4 or 5 rather than 2 or 3 it would considerably lighten the load on those we do have and help their performances.

Ypu might be right there, never thought of it like that.

It's such a simple concept we don't currently embrace. We need to put doubt in the minds of the opposition if we want to make their defence work hard. We currently make it easier for them with our lone runners and minimal playmakers, it's just so much easier to read and defend against.

I think with Tansey and Westerman, they both were signed and had big impressions to make to the fans which put them under a lot of pressure at a young age, too.