You do know Westerman is only 24 don't you ?

On the rare occasion that the forwards rolled their sleeves up and gave him a platform I thought he looked the part. As long as there is an organising type alongside him (be that Sneyd, HTW or whoever) then I think he will go well.



I can see the temptation in playing him at hooker. With his speed off the mark I can see him making alot of breaks from DH as long as the forwards do their job, and we already know he can pass a ball.

Indeed. I think that because he's been around for so long people forget that Westerman still has his best days ahead of him.



He's as much the future of the club as any of the other youngsters mentioned here.

100% agree Westerman, Houghton and Watts (who has matured massively) will be the leaders of the team in the next 2 years.

Westerman has always had the ability, and whilst I don't think he's ever been as bad as some on here claimed in his first two years, these last two years he's been superb, especially in 2014. No doubt this is down to the influence of Gareth Ellis for me, no surprise Watts has matured either. Yet more evidence of the intangible benefit of signing a player of Ellis' stature.

out of interest how many times have you seen Naughton play?? How do you know he would be a better option than Rankin at full back? Your opinion of course..I'd keep Rankin for sure, love the guys passion!

Rankin is exactly the type of player we have been looking for for ages. A half who is prepared to take on the line, got pace and doesn't mind getting smashed in a tackle once in a while. I have a feeling that that signing of Pryce was to mentor Rankin as much as it was to utilise his experience on the field of play.



I don't really understand the blind faith some show in the untried and very much unproven youngsters at the club. Far too much sentiment in wanting locally produced players. With the lack of halves we have had over the last few years if these youngsters were the real deal they surely would have had opportunities to shine in the first team.



I like what we have seen in the first team of Abdul, but as has been pointed out, he is more of an old style 13 than a half.



Rankin has produced not just solid performances but something extra. He is not th finished article by any means, but he will benefit greatly from Pryce.

Reflects my views. Rankin has talent and attitude, lacks consistency but definitely worth persisting with.

I think the mistake was signing Naughton, just why? we already knew that Rankin can play FB so can cover Shaul (or even usurp him based on form), we know potentially he could play interchange 9 as well as his preferred position of 6.

IF Radford had any thoughts of keeping Rankin long term then he wouldn't have signed Pryce and/or naughton, Pryce I think is a very poor signing for us. Sneyd & Rankin I'd be fairly happy with for next season.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Naughton given a run out at 6 in the future .

Sorry but that's just a nonsense, he was one of the most consistent players last year along with Talanoa and a couple of others. Just how many of the squad performed pants from one game to the next then after a rocket got up and played? I'll tell you, 75% of them Rankin was not one of them.

We need some experience in the halves. This season proved that.



Pryce is an upgrade from Horne.