Brothers-in-law Joe Westerman and Liam Watts are back together at Castleford - and arguing already

May 27, 2024

THE ARGUMENT levels at Castleford have gone through the roof now Joe Westerman and Liam Watts are back together.

One says, ‘Today is Friday,’ the other disagrees. One lifts more than the other in the gym, the other claims they did.

But the rowing brothers-in-law will bring more out of each other as the 2022 Super League season is more like child’s play.

That in turn will see the Tigers roar more loudly under new boss Lee Radford – almost as loudly as they roar at each other.

“It’s constant,” said prop Watts, who teased his relative about a new tracksuit top, asking whether it had been bought from a pre-worn retro shop.

“If I said today’s Friday, he’d swear it’s Saturday but it’s business as usual. It’s like he’s never been away.

“We lived in the same area as kids and went to the same school. We started here when we were 15 or 16-years-old – hopefully now, we can finish our careers where it all started.”

Loose forward Westerman added: “We’ve played rugby together since we were eight or nine-years-old.

“I just switch off to him now, so when I hear him, it’s just straight in one ear and out of the other.

“Even if Liam lifts more in the gym, I’d argue he doesn’t. It’s like the film Step Brothers now!”

Watts and Westerman were part of Castleford school Airedale’s mighty rugby team, which won almost all the national trophies.

They then played together at amateur side Lock Lane before both went through Castleford’s youth ranks and into the first team.

Westerman was seen as the bright new thing when he made his senior debut aged just 16 – but after 11 years away, a different version has returned.

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A more worldly-wise player, who knows what it takes to keep in peak condition – the days of unhealthy eating and drinking are long gone.

Now after a spell together at Hull FC in 2015, they are ready to do it together for their hometown club, which certainly means more.

Westerman, 32, added: “I wish I knew then what I know now. I find it a little easier now I’m older as I know more about the game – when I was younger, I just winged it.

“I just relied on being skilful rather than knowing what to work hard away from the gym, like things in the gym.

“Now it’s about making sure I stay strong, then when we’re playing I take things a bit easier and not be as erratic as I was.

“It was pretty much a case of, ‘Where do I sign?’ I always said I wanted to come back here but I’ve got a few good years left in me.

“When I got the opportunity, it was a case of, ‘Let me get in and get going.’”

And Watts, the 31-year-old who is married to Westerman’s sister Beth, conceded: “He’s our ball handling loose forward, so it’s been nice to have someone in the team everyone can run off.

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