JOE Westerman says he is hitting form at the right time.

The Wire loose forward, who can drive in like a prop and distribute like a half back, was lauded by his coach Tony Smith this week for recent performances and could have an influential role to play in the remainder of the campaign.

“I don’t know about the prop role, I’m trying to stay away from that,” said the 26-year-old, who is preparing to face his home-town club Castleford Tigers at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle on Sunday.

“There’s Sean O’Loughlin at Wigan and Grant Millington at Castleford playing a lot similarly and we’ve all played a bit of stand off.

“It’s something I’ve always done and I enjoy playing like that.

“If it’s helping the team out, then why not carry on.”

It is a role he is now getting to grips with after arriving from Hull FC at the end of last year.

“For me it was a new team, new structure, new plays and new coach so it was always going to take time for me to get to grips with everything,” he said.

“Coaches Tony Smith, Richard Agar and Lee Briers have all been really good and worked with me.

“Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been back playing a lot more like I’m able to. It’s down to me now, I’ve got the backing of the coaches to play like I do, so I’ve got to back it up every week.

“It’s been a year where I’ve not put enough consistent performances together but over the past few weeks I’ve been better and getting to where I want to be.”

Sunday’s visit to Castleford Tigers will provide Westerman with his shortest journey to work this year.

“It’s not going to be easy at Castleford. They’re a team of quality players and when they turn up they can really hurt you.

“We’re looking to build now. This is the important end of the season, this is where it matters.

“Winning now is the main thing. We’re up there and putting a good string of performances together would set us up for the semi-final games we want to be in and winning.

“It’s on my doorstep, I still live over there. I’m from there and played there, the fans are really close and you can hear everything they’re saying. I’ll probably get a lot of abuse,” he said, laughing.

“I usually stay in the house during the week to avoid it, playing on the PlayStation.

“The travelling over to Warrington is fine. I get to training early and get some work done.

“I travel in with Toby King and George King. They live Huddersfield way, so we pick them up.

“I’ve got my two girls at home so it’s tough to move over. But I’m finding it all right, I’m enjoying it.”

His displays are timely as the Challenge Cup semi final, Super 8s and play-offs draw closer, while he harbours hopes of returning to the England set-up too despite not being in the invited 31 to recently meet up with new national team boss Wayne Bennett.

“This is the busy time of the year, this is the important time. If you start playing well now every week the team can pick itself,” he said.

“You can be the best player in Super League through the year and then fade off or have little injuries.

“But I feel good now. I feel good in myself and I’m enjoying my rugby.

“There’s no excuses for this time of year and if you go into the top eight and the semis in good form, that’s all you can do and then I’m sure Wayne Bennett will pick the team he thinks can do the job.

“I’m playing the role I want to and playing all right. There’s still improvements and that’s me having to be consistent to work my way back into that England set-up.

“I don’t know how Wayne will want his number 13 to play but I play pretty much the same way as Sean O’Loughlin (England captain).

“I’ll do everything I can now for Warrington, play my best until the end of the season to win something for the club and myself.

“Then I think the England situation will sort itself.”