How'd he go this season? He certainly wasn't getting the media attention he was in 2008. Did he have injury problems or problems with form, or is he doing well from you guys?



I'm only asking because during all the comparing opinions about international selection going on, he doesn't seem to be coming up as much as I expected.

Things could have been better for him but next year should be better. Not as much media attention as you say but that's a good thing I say.

joe had a quieter year than the previous year although im reliably informed he played the majority of the season requiring surgury to his shoulder and it was causing him a lot of discomfort.



next year will be a big year for both joe westerman and richard owen who has also had off season surgury and both will be pivotol to our chances of making the play offs again.

Is Richard Owen a Cas player for next season then ?

Seems he's still under contract I'd assume so.

When he got a head injury playing against saints early in the season it seemed to shake him up a bit, towards the end of the season he improved alot and started to find the tryline again.

He was hyped to ridiculous levels both on here and in the media. He hasn't failed at all, he is currently at the level all sane watchers of the game expected - a work in progress - just like Dale Ferguson and all the rest.



He may never fulfill his potential - he may exceed all expectations - what's for certain is that he has plenty of time to do it.



Sure in Tomkins you have a player who seems fully formed and ready to go. However against the Kiwis there were a number of players who have taken some time to really hit the heights. Sinfield, Crabtree, Briscoe, Fox have all taken their time. Sinfield in particular has been a decent SL but never looked close to international standard until now and he was really hyped as a kid.



Finally much of Westermans future hinges heavily on what Cas achieve and how Matterson develops him.

Havent seen you on here in a while vasty, but when i saw this thread i knew it wouldnt be long before you had something to say.



Outscoring all those other forwards in the league wasnt bad for a work in progress last year was it?

No it wasn't, but when you consider there was serious talk of him captaining the England team this Four Nations it put's it in context.



I have no real complaints about Smith team selection. I think Brough deserved a shot ahead of Myler. You probably think the same about Westerman - but the truth is neither are international standard at this exact moment IMHO. However Westerman may be one day where as Broughy won't IMHO. I bring this up because those I named have all the ingredients including experience so fair call to Smith. Westeman didn't get a fringe spot because unlke Tomkins his form running up to this comp was not mega if your honest. On top of that you didn't make the play offs which IMHO tends to put players out of mind.



The other more positive thing that holds Westerman back is that we now have a lot more good players than 5 years ago which makes it that much harder to gain a spot. I fairnes would you drop Ellis, Burgess, Westwood or Wilkins? I wouldn't.



It's just opinion.



PS, scoring loads of tries in SL does not make you an International class player - Jamie Rooney - need I say more

Christ, that didn't take long did it?

No way was westerman gonna be picked at international level this year.

The kid as just had shoulder surgery for starters.....the fit he had on the field against saints really knocked him back and he lost a bit of confidence.

There are better players in joes position just now, so give it a couple of years and he'll be a great internationl player.

You just can't leave it can you?



































It's an obsession!