‘He’s going to have a blast’: Joe Westerman’s coach laughs off disgraced rugby star’s Gregg’s alleyway sex act and jokes, ‘he’s mental’ as he is named in Sunday’s Super League squad line-up
- READ MORE: How married estate agent in sex act scandal has been ‘sacked’
Shamed rugby leave love cheat Joe Westerman has made the squad this weekend as his coach joked: ‘I’m sure he’ll have a blast.’
The married father of three was widely expected to be dropped for Castleford Tigers’ game on Sunday after footage him performing a lewd sex act on a woman in an alley behind a Greggs went viral on social media.
But today, Castleford boss Lee Radford named him in the squad to face Hull after laughing off the scandal in a press conference yesterday.
Asked how he the 33-year-old was doing mentally, Radford joked ‘oh, he’s mental’ before clarifying: ‘He’s alright, he’s Joe. He’s been himself.’
Addressing the press conference, he added: ‘He’s available to play and if he’s selected I’m sure he’s going to have a blast at the KC Stadium. He’s definitely up for playing.’
Castleford boss Lee Radford today named Westerman in the squad to face Hull
Westerman was caught (pictured) performing a sex act on a woman – his wife says that his cheating makes her feel sick
Westerman put on a brave face as he showed up for a Castleford Tigers training session yesterday
Westerman and the unnamed woman were filmed passerby who caught them in the act following a night out last weekend in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
According to Lauren Westerman, the rugby star’s 33-year-old wife, the woman lost her job as an estate agent after the footage spread online.
She is thought to be the spouse of one of Mr Westerman’s best friends.
Discussing the scandal with reporters, Radford continue: ‘Monday knocked us about a bit but since then he’s trained well and put his best foot forward for selection.
‘He’s one of a number of players who have had a good pre-season.
‘I’m sure Joe will be as motivated as anybody else on the field on Sunday if he is to participate. Throughout his career he’s driven a rocky road.
‘He’s had some other setbacks off the field but he’s always responded in a good manner and mentally he’s a tough fella.’
It comes after Lauren revealed the grovelling text messages her husband sent her following the fallout from the scandal, as she vowed to never take him back.
Speaking about the woman in the video, Ms Westerman told the Sun: ‘It’s the children I feel for. Our children and her children.
Lauren Westerman, 33, (pictured at the family home in Castlewood this week) said her husband’s actions had caused irreparable harm to her and her children and that their marriage is over
The unnamed blonde and the Castleford Tigers player, 33, were filmed behind a Gregg’s by a passerby who caught them in the act following a night out in Pontefract, West Yorkshire at the weekend (stock image)
‘She’ll never live it down. She’s lost her job and there are memes of her sweeping the internet, her children are going to see that.’
Ms Westerman had said she would ‘never be able to get it out of my mind’ after telling friends her marriage is ‘one trillion per cent finished’. She insists Joe knows ‘there’s no coming back’ from his sex scandal.
She said: ‘Truth is, he only told me because it was on social media. But I’m glad it was found because the thought of kissing him after that just makes me feel sick.’
Lauren has said that Joe has sent her a series of grovelling texts to save their marriage.
His angry wife said the video has caused irreparable harm to her and their children, aged nine and 14, but she added she was ‘glad’ she had seen it so she didn’t have to kiss him again.
She revealed his texts to her since he cheated on her, in which Mr Westerman said: ‘I can’t explain what happened cos I physically can’t remember.
‘It’s disgusting and I now have to live with it forever. Losing you and the kids is heart-breaking Lauren, you deserve so much better. You always said alcohol would f*** me up.’
His wife replied that she had warned him about his drinking. He replied: ‘Story of my life. I miss you like crazy. U was perfect.
‘I need you to know I can’t remember anything about that night. I look like a zombie.’
Lauren spent Valentine’s Day alone with their three children, saying she felt ‘so sorry’ for them after they were cruelly sent the video on Snapchat by other children at their school.
The woman in the video is thought to be the wife of one of the rugby league star’s best friends and has now lost her job following the incident, according to Ms Westerman.
Ms Westerman said she would ‘never be able to get it out of my mind’ after telling friends her marriage to the Castleford Tigers star was ‘one trillion per cent finished’.
She told The Sun: ‘There are absolutely no excuses for what he’s done, not just to me but to our children and wider family.
‘I went on to Twitter and saw it had been deleted and deleted loads of times and then about half an hour later it was posted.
‘I just felt physically sick.’
Ms Westerman said her marriage to the rugby star is over after his actions, saying: ‘the thought of kissing him after that just makes me feel sick’
‘Words will never explain how sorry I am’: Joe Westerman’s grovelling texts to his wife have emerged
Ms Westerman said that Mr Westerman had confessed to his actions the following day after he had been caught with the blonde estate agent following a day-long drinking session.
He later made a grovelling public apology to his family and friends after the graphic video went viral on Twitter.
Speaking about the woman in the video, Ms Westerman said: ‘It’s the children I feel for. Our children and her children.
‘She’ll never live it down. She’s lost her job and there are memes of her sweeping the internet, her children are going to see that.’
She reiterated that her marriage to Joe is ‘one trillion per cent finished’ and that she has been left ‘numb’ over the incident.
The pair got married in 2014 and share three children together.
It’s believed Joe has also been shunned by his so-called best friend who he has known for many years.
Ms Westerman pictured yesterday at her home in Castleford after she spent Valentine’s Day alone with her children
Joe was a member of his pal’s wedding party when he tied the knot more than 10 years ago.
A friend told MailOnline: ‘There’s two families whose lives have been shattered by this.
One friend of Lauren’s said: ‘The marriage is over for good and Joe knows that. There is no way Lauren will ever take him back.’
MailOnline revealed this week how Lauren – who married the loose forward in 2014 – hadn’t spoken to her husband since the footage emerged and was focusing on protecting their children.
The primary school teacher said: ‘I just wish it had never happened. My poor children!’
Now she has told friends there is no way back for the Castleford Tigers player.
Westerman (pictured last month) – who was handed a ‘substantial fine’ by his club said he was ‘incredibly remorseful’ after being caught
Lauren told how she was left ‘shocked and numb’ by the betrayal and the impact it would have on their children, particularly their 15-year-old daughter.
She reportedly told friends: ‘There’s no way you can come back after something so horrific.
‘It is one trillion per cent finished.
The rugby player – who was handed a ‘substantial fine’ by his club said he was ‘incredibly remorseful’ after being caught out.
The club also ordered the back-rower to help educate young people on the effects of alcohol and ‘dangers of social media when in the public eye’.
Originally from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, Westerman started his career with Castleford Tigers in 2007 after graduating from junior club the Featherstone Lions.