From Castleford to Hull and back: Joe Westerman enters into testimonial year - but is there still chance for silverware at the Jungle before he hangs up his boots?

It’s been a journey from Castleford to Hull and back, which started in the junior ranks of Castleford Lock Lane and Featherstone Lions, before - in his first pro season - helping the Tigers out of National League One in 2007.

He then spent three fruitful years in Super League with Cas before catching the eye of Hull FC, where he made over 100 appearances across five seasons.

A move to Warrington Wolves followed where he was involved in two final defeats in 2016 - the Challenge Cup Final at the hands of his former club Hull FC, and Wigan Warriors in the Grand Final.

There was a brief stop at Toronto Wolfpack before he headed back to the Black and Whites for two seasons. Another two seasons followed at Wakefield Trinity before he finally returned home to the Jungle in 2022.

And although his special year started with defeat in the testimonial fixture with Hull FC, Westerman is hopeful he will have something to celebrate with Cas before he hangs up his boots.

The 35-year-old said: “To win something would be massive. It would be my dream come true. It would be massive for me and it would be massive for my family.

“I am getting a bit older now so I haven’t got that long left so we’d better get our act together this year.

“It’s my hometown club. I have supported Cas since I was six years old. I signed my first contract here and I loved it here.

“I was only a kid at the time and then I moved on from here to Hull. I always wanted to come back. But I always wanted to come back when I knew I had something left in me and I that I knew I could play to a level that helped the team.

“And I think while I can keep doing that I’ll keep playing. All I want is for Cas to get bigger and better and hopefully start pushing for stuff, if it’s not this year, then next year.

“I want to make Cas as good as I can.”