Westerman Reflects On Time With Black & Whites

Westerman Reflects On Time With Black & Whites

Joe Westerman has reflected on his time with the Black & Whites ahead of Saturday’s testimonial fixture at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle.

Club News

Joe Westerman has reflected on his time with the Black & Whites ahead of Saturday’s testimonial fixture at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle.

Westerman made 160 appearances for the club, initially joining the Airlie Birds in 2011 for a five season spell, before returning for two more years in West Hull in 2018.

Speaking to hullfc.com, Westerman said: “I had some great times at Hull – I’d have to say getting to the Challenge Cup Final in 2013 would have to be right up there as one of the best memories for me.

“But I can’t look past the derbies in terms of highlights. There was nothing better than a packed MKM with over 22,000 odd thousand people in the ground. It’s a special game, and always had a special atmosphere.

“In fact, my first game for the club was a Hull Derby back in 2011 in Cardiff – Rich Agar put me on the bench and I came on at six. So my Hull FC career started off with some real pressure!”

Westerman provided an iconic Hull Derby moment himself back in 2019; dislocating his knee cap at Craven Park, Westerman slapped it back into place and carried on playing.

“I’ve said before – I think everybody would’ve done it if you had that kind of injury. It’s just one of those things you do when your knee is out and you’re in pain, it’s common sense just to knock it back in. 

“Luckily there was no damage and it felt fine so I just played on. I don’t remember it for that, I remember it for the knock on and then we went on to lose the game, so that is what it’s about really!”

On the decision to make the move to the Black & Whites from his boyhood club of Castleford in 2011, he said: “I was only young at the time, Cas wasn’t in a stable position and Rich Agar offered me to come to Hull – it’s not that I really wanted to go, but I think for both parties it was the best deal.

“Cas got the funds to keep the club running and for both clubs it was a good deal, but I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to come back to Cas and pretty much finish my career here, and I’m lucky to be in that position now.”

Westerman also paid tribute to former head coach Lee Radford, who oversaw much of his time at the club and brought him back to the Airlie Birds for his second spell in 2018.

“Radders was great for me – he gave me plenty of opportunities whilst I was there, brought me to Hull, brought me back and then moved to Cas and brought me back there so I have a lot to thank him for. 

“I spent eight years at FC, a big chunk of my career, and I really enjoyed playing under him for most of that time and you look at him now; he’s got two Challenge Cups under his belt and is a legend of the club. It was always good to play under him and now he’s moved to Northampton and he’s got them up to the Premiership so it shows how talented he is.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, he added: “Both clubs are special to me; I’m a Cas lad, I’ve supported Cas since I was six years old, it was my dream to play for Cas, and I’ve been lucky to do so and come back later in my career.

“I thank Hull for making it happen, and I thank the fans for buying the tickets and I hope we put on a good game for them. Two good teams, two new coaches, two new eras for both clubs and I think it’ll be a really good contest.”

Tickets for Saturday’s fixture remain available by clicking here – a cash turnstile will also be in operation on match day.