Joe's always shown he's a natural rugby league player with a good set of hands and boot, a solid leader on the pitch at times too. Shame about his (rumoured) off field antics. Think he'll go well at wire or disappear from the game entirely.

Could we be in for Carney?

Good bit of business this to get 150k did work hard on the field but off the field was not the role model we were looking for. I would rather have the players we are signing now that lead on and off the field.

I don't see this as a step backwards but a step forwards at making the club players more professional.

Not without getting rid of another quota player I don't think. Unless the plan is to sack off Michaels and get someone better!

Of the players mentioned BJB or Charnley would both be good options.

That really is revisionism/selective. I'd say IMO, but the stats say otherwise, too:

2015 - has been a disappointing year with few tries and clean breaks, but he does have a decent amount of tackle busts being joint 8th, and was level on assists with Pryce (who I know missed a few games).
2014 - low on tries, but joint 4th for assists with Heremaia at 9, only 1 behind Horne. He was our leading tackle buster with 81, and joint 7th for clean breaks with our POTY Talanoa.
2013 - joint 5th for tries and joint 7th for assists (only halves, hookers and Crooks with more, as it should be). 3rd for tackle busts and 10th for clean breaks (leading forward).
2012 - missed a huge chunk with shoulder dislocation.
2011 - 4th for tries, 5th for assists, 3rd for clean breaks, 4th for tackle busts. A great first season that still just wasn't good enough for many.

I have no wish to get into the ins and outs of his departure etc, but I have simply never understood the amount of criticism and lack of credit Westerman has received for most of his time here, and how many things that are stated are simply outright untrue.

Thanks for the service a change and a move away from Cas area will probs bring the best out of Joe and I'm sure he will be better under Tony Smith who turned Briers round off field, got to say the back rows we have coming in are far superior and we have a young lad in Abdul who has a lot of the handling skills Joe made his name for, I just hope we use the cap space wisely and strengthen the squad in an attacking manner, we make line breaks but we don't convert we dominate but do not put teams away this needs addressing with backs who support play and half's who can create try's and a hooker who can be spelled by another attacking threat round the ruck

Our squad is up to full cap. We release Westerman, freeing up some cap. We replace Westerman with a salary that can be no more than his. So far we're square financially at worst. Then AP gets £150k to bridge funding shortfalls. Brilliant news!

How much are these shortfalls?

We could be. Would be a bit awkward, mind.

£150k lower than yesterday. Unless we use some to pay a fee, of course.