Ah yes the infamous year in which we supposedly cheated according to ones that frequent the team from the aptly named Poorhouse Lane. Really thought they'd have tried to get that renamed by now.

Back on topic, although I wasn't keen at first I think Westerman with a point to prove to himself as much as anyone else and to earn a deal its a win/win for the club. Hopefully we will use him out wide were he will be more of an attacking threat than just an extra forward driving it down the middle.

Elliott Whitehead-esk

Cant see our coach having a wide running second row like Ben Currie or Whitehead.
We had the ideal one in Frank Pritchard and he ended up like you or i dont want Westerman to be just an extra forward driving it down the middle.
But he will

Wherever he plays it gives us some much needed quality back row rotation and the option to move hadley or manu up to prop if needed

"Abuse", you mean stuff I've said AFTER I've already been attacked myself which wasn't 'abuse' at all and certainly nowhere near the level of vilification I'm on the end of?
I don't come out in a first post and start attacking/vilifying someone for their opinion and never have, so you're lying. Unlike plenty on here who wade in after I've made a comment on a post, time and time and time again.
Do i sometimes throw some back AFTER I've had yet another unpleasant post aimed at me, absolutely, I don't make it personal either, on a couple of occasions calling out/mentioning my family in an insult as well as personal name calling (that was subsequently deleted by a Mod)

As I said, IF we can get Westerman firing like he was leading up to his England call up with us and like he played in 2016 AND not just be a banging it down the middle forward he'll be a brilliant asset. However I'm certainly not putting a huge amount of expectation on him because firstly I don't think he'll be used like Smith did in 2016 that brought out the best in him and secondly he hasn't been at that level for some time and it's an unknown if he can ever get near to those heights again.

he does have time on his side though at 28, we can just hope he knuckles down, puts his all in and surprises us. looking forward to what he is going to bring us.

I thought he went really well yesterday and added a fair bit with ball in hand in the middle of the park. Nice to see him actually running at the defence before passing the ball and he definitely didn't look unfit.

This could be a great piece of business by the club and make up a bit for the loss of watts particularity as we might be weaker in the back row than front row

It was a pretty impressive start. Hopefully he can keep it up and earn a contract for next season.