Joe Westerman

Joe Westerman
Personal information
Born (1989-11-15) 15 November 1989 (age 35)
Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Weight17 st 7 lb (111 kg)[1]
Playing information
PositionLoose forward, Prop, Stand-off
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007–10 Castleford Tigers 103 43 175 0 522
2011–15 Hull F.C. 128 29 59 1 235
2016–17 Warrington Wolves 53 12 0 0 48
2018 Toronto Wolfpack 5 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Hull F.C. 32 10 0 0 40
2020–21 Wakefield Trinity 34 7 0 0 28
2022– Castleford Tigers 78 5 0 0 20
Total 433 106 234 1 893
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011 England Knights 1 0 0 0 0
2014–21 England 2 0 0 0 0
Source: [2][3]
As of 19 September 2024

Joe Westerman (born 15 November 1989) is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays as a loose forward for and co-captains the Castleford Tigers in the Super League. He has represented the England Knights and England at international level.

He has previously played for the Castleford Tigers, Hull FC, the Warrington Wolves and Wakefield Trinity in the Super League, and for the Toronto Wolfpack in the RFL Championship.

Background

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Westerman was born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England.

Westerman grew up supporting Castleford Tigers and has been a fan of the club since he was 6 years old.

Club career

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Castleford Tigers

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Westerman burst onto the scene in 2007 in the Castleford Tigers National League One campaign, having previous played junior rugby league with Castleford Lock Lane and the Featherstone Lions.[4] Joe played in most of the Castleford Tiger's games and scored 2 tries in the National League One Grand Final at Headingley. Joe was named National League One young player of the year.

Westerman playing for the Castleford Tigers in 2008

In 2008 Joe had a great first season in the Super League for Castleford scoring 12 tries in 25 games.[5] He was tipped for being a future England RL international.[6]

Hull F.C.

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Westerman was Hull F.C.'s marquee signing for Super League XVI, with the Black and Whites paying a club record fee to secure the services of the former Castleford Tigers man.[7]

Warrington Wolves

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In October 2015, Westerman signed a 3-year contract with Warrington for a fee of £150,000.[8]

He played in the 2016 Challenge Cup Final defeat by Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium.[9][10]

He played in the 2016 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford.[11]

Toronto Wolfpack

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Upon promotion from League 1 in 2017, Westerman signed with Rugby League's first trans-Atlantic team, the Toronto Wolfpack, on 1 October 2017.[12] Westerman joined fellow Wolves teammate Ashton Sims for the 2018 season, who signed with the Wolfpack less than a month prior.[13]

In April 2018 Westerman was released by Toronto Wolfpack after making only 4 appearances for the club. The decision to allow Westerman to leave for free raised eyebrows given he was less than 6 months into a three-year contract and the Wolfpack had paid a transfer fee of £130,000 to secure his services.[14]

Return to Hull F.C.

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Westerman returned to Hull FC in April 2018 despite interest from other clubs. He cited coach Lee Radford and his love for Hull FC as reasons for his choice.[15]

In the local derby in June 2019 against Hull Kingston Rovers, he dislocated his knee in a tackle only to slap it back in place and continue playing.[16]

Wakefield Trinity

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Westerman signed a two-year deal with Wakefield Trinity ahead of the 2020 Super League season.[17]

Return to Castleford Tigers

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In June 2021, it was announced that Westerman would return to his boyhood club, the Castleford Tigers, on a two-year deal from the 2022 season.[18] He would be working alongside former coach Lee Radford once again, as well as playing for the team he supported as a child. Commenting on the news, he said, "The standard is really high now and I just want to get there and play well for my hometown club next year."[18]

Westerman made his second Castleford debut on 11 February 2022 against the Salford Red Devils.[19] He was voted the Fans' Man of the Match for the first two rounds of the season against Salford and Warrington.[20][21] Following another two Man of the Match performances against Wigan and Leeds in March, head coach Radford called Westerman "the best 13 in the competition".[22] His standout personal year saw him dominate the club's end-of-season awards, being named Directors' Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year, and Club Player of the Year.[23]

In the 2023 season, Westerman made 23 appearances for Castleford and scored one try against the Leigh Leopards.[2] He served as acting captain towards the end of the season due to the injury absence of Paul McShane.[24] He was named as Players' Player of the Year and Club Player of the Year, retaining the awards for the second consecutive year.[25] In September, Westerman signed a two-year contract extension with the Tigers and said, "I always wanted to end my career at Cas."[26][27] Director of rugby Danny Wilson said, "As a person, he's Castleford through and through. He wears his heart on his sleeve when he plays and he's been our best player for the last 2 years."[28]

Ahead of the 2024 season, Westerman was appointed Castleford co-captain alongside Paul McShane by new head coach Craig Lingard.[29][30] He scored a try against the Salford Red Devils on 25 February,[31] and a second weeks later against the Catalans Dragons on 16 March.[32]

International career

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Westerman played for and captained the England Knights in their 38-18 victory against France at the Leigh Sports Village on 15 October 2011.[33]

Westerman made his senior international debut on 25 October 2014, starting in England's 32-26 victory against Samoa at the Suncorp Stadium in the 2014 Four Nations.[34][35]

Westerman made a return to the England team on 25 June 2021, playing against the Combined Nations All Stars at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.[36]

Club statistics

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Appearances and points in all competitions by year
Club Season Tier App T G DG Pts
Castleford Tigers 2007 National League One 24 12 20 0 88
2008 Super League 25 12 28 0 104
2009 Super League 28 9 41 0 118
2010 Super League 26 10 86 0 212
2022 Super League 29 1 0 0 4
2023 Super League 23 1 0 0 4
2024 Super League 26 3 0 0 12
Total 181 48 175 0 542
Hull F.C. 2011 Super League 28 10 23 0 86
2012 Super League 18 5 2 0 24
2013 Super League 31 8 21 0 74
2014 Super League 28 3 13 1 39
2015 Super League 23 3 0 0 12
2018 Super League 6 0 0 0 0
2019 Super League 26 10 0 0 40
Total 160 39 59 1 275
Warrington Wolves 2016 Super League 34 10 0 0 40
2017 Super League 19 2 0 0 8
Total 53 12 0 0 48
Toronto Wolfpack 2018 Championship 5 0 0 0 0
Wakefield Trinity 2020 Super League 17 4 0 0 16
2021 Super League 17 3 0 0 12
Total 34 7 0 0 28
Career total 433 106 234 1 893
As of match played 19 September 2024

Personal life

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In February 2023, Castleford Tigers fined Westerman after an online video was released showing him performing a sex act in public on a woman, who was not his wife. The club also ordered Westerman to help educate young people on the effects of alcohol and "dangers of social media when in the public eye". Westerman issued a statement, saying "I'd also like to apologise to the supporters, sponsors, staff, and directors of Castleford Tigers as well as my team-mates. I'd like to extend this apology to the game of rugby league, and I have realised that I need to work on my decision-making around alcohol."[37][38][39]

Westerman is a lifelong supporter of both Manchester United and Castleford Tigers.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Hull 1st Team Joe Westerman". Hull FC. 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Player Summary: Joe Westerman". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Hull set to unleash secret weapon". Yorkshire Post. 27 May 2006 – via NewsBank.
  5. ^ "Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". thecastlefordtigers. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Scouting report: Joe Westerman, Castleford". The Guardian. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Joe Westerman joins Hull from Castleford for 'club record' fee". The Guardian. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Hull FC sell Joe Westerman to Warrington Wolves for £150,000". Hull Daily Mail. 20 October 2015. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Hull FC's Jamie Shaul's late try takes Challenge Cup away from Warrington". Guardian. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Challenge Cup final: Hull FC 12-10 Warrington Wolves". BBC. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  11. ^ "Warrington 6-12 Wigan: Super League Grand Final – as it happened!". Guardian. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Joe Westerman Joins the Toronto Wolfpack". Toronto Wolfpack. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "Toronto Wolfpack sign Fiji international prop Ashton Sims for next season". Toronto Star. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  14. ^ "Joe Westerman and Quentin Laulu-Togaga'e leave Toronto Wolfpack". Sky Sports. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  15. ^ "Joe Westerman: Hull FC re-sign loose forward from Toronto Wolfpack". BBC. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Hull FC's Joe Westerman dislocates knee and knocks it BACK IN before playing on in Hull derby". Daily Mirror newspaper. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Westerman signs two-year deal". 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Joe Westerman: Castleford Tigers to re-sign Wakefield Trinity back-rower from 2022". BBC Sport. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Super League: Castleford Tigers 16-26 Salford Red Devils". BBC Sport. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  20. ^ Castleford Tigers [@CTRLFC] (14 February 2022). "After tallying up your votes, Fords faithful you chose @joewesty13787 as the @HuntersHomes Fans Man of the Match following the game against Salford" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Castleford Tigers [@CTRLFC] (20 February 2022). "After counting up our supporters' votes, you chose @joewesty13787 as the @HuntersHomes Fans Man of the Match from our match against Warrington. Back-to-back weeks for Westy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Pattison, Cam (26 March 2022). ""He's the best 13 in the comp" – Lee Radford praises Joe Westerman and backs another Tiger to make World Cup "statement"". Serious About Rugby League. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Westerman signs two-year deal". Castleford Tigers. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  24. ^ O'Brien, James (9 June 2023). "Castleford Tigers face anxious wait after Paul McShane suffers suspected broken arm". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Tigers host end of season dinner". Castleford Tigers. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Castleford Tigers: Putt and El-Zakhem join, new contract for Joe Westerman". BBC Sport. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  27. ^ "Westerman signs two-year deal". Castleford Tigers. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  28. ^ O'Brien, James (28 September 2023). "Joe Westerman ready for key role in Castleford Tigers rebuild after opting to end career at hometown club". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  29. ^ Darbyshire, Drew (11 January 2024). "Castleford Tigers coach Craig Lingard appoints co-captains for 2024: 'They know what it means to play for Cas'". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  30. ^ O'Brien, James (11 January 2024). "Castleford Tigers boss Craig Lingard appoints co-captains for 2024 Super League season". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  31. ^ "Super League: Salford Red Devils 26-22 Castleford Tigers - Hosts hold on for first win". BBC Sport. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Super League: Catalans Dragons 40-14 Castleford Tigers - Fourth win in five games for French side". BBC Sport. 16 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  33. ^ "Westerman to lead the Knights". Sky Sports. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  34. ^ Hafez, Shamoon (25 October 2014). "Four Nations: England defeat Samoa 32-26 in thrilling opener". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  35. ^ "Four Nations: England international Joe Westerman honoured by Sam Burgess presentation". Sky Sports. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  36. ^ "England 24-26 All Stars: Shaun Wane makes losing start with England". Sky Sports. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  37. ^ "Joe Westerman: Castleford Tigers fine back rower over sex act video". BBC. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  38. ^ "Joe Westerman hit with 'substantial fine' over sex act video". Independent. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  39. ^ Shaw, Matthew (13 February 2023). "Castleford Tigers issue statement after lewd video of Joe Westerman goes viral". Examiner Live. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
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