BBC Sport is embarking on a series of scouting missions to find out which of Super League's young guns should be on the plane to Australia for the World Cup.

After profiling Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Luke Burgess and Gareth Hock, we decided to look at Joe Westerman.

The 18-year-old Castleford loose forward already has a lot of fans, as the following views clearly demonstrate:

As a Cas fan myself, I think Joe Westerman this year has been the best loose forward in the league and would be the first name on my team sheet. He should definitely go to Australia.
Joel Bainbridge

An 18-year-old with the mind of a 30-year-old. He has no fear and great ability for one so young. Playing in a struggling team is not easy but Joe puts this to one side and continues to flourish.
John Collings

He is involved in everything. Eighty minutes most weeks in his first year in Super League. Still only 18, but if you're good enough... He has been one of, if not the, most consistent performer for Cas this year and often deserved to be on a winning side. If Sam Burgess gets a crack, why not Joe?
Kyle

Now find out what our man thought when he went to see Joe in action against Leeds Rhinos at Headingley.

By George Riley

I'd highlighted last weekend's Leeds-Castleford derby as a chance to see Super League's rising star go toe-to-toe with an opposite number I regard as one of the most under-rated players in Super League.

Tigers teenager Joe Westerman and Rhinos stalwart Jamie Jones-Buchanan both want England World Cup places.

"I know I'm in the reckoning now and, as I've had a taste, I wanna be on that plane," Westerman told me in the Headingley tunnel after another try-scoring display in defeat.

The 18-year-old made the England squad last week. Jones-Buchanan didn't.

Joe's fantastic... he's the ideal stature for a backrower, so strong and fit and can go for 80 minutes Jamie Jones-Buchanan

"There's still a World Cup carrot at the end of the year, so I'll keep working for that," said Jones-Buchanan, who had just started his first game since March.

It was a bizarre match. Leeds had half a team playing for England in France the night before so were forced to field a near Academy side, with Jones-Buchanan in the centres.

"I'd never played there before so I just gave it my best shot," he said. "It's a lot about work ethic, mate, and if I give it all my enthusiasm I don't think I'm gonna go far wrong."

Jones-Buchanan is one of Super League's unsung heroes. He boasts an infectious work-rate and a fantastic attitude to the game.

"I wasn't really disappointed not to be picked by England," he said. "I spoke to Tony Smith last week and, considering the injury I've been through and not having started a game since March, I'm still a work in progress."

Jones-Buchanan's injuries have come at a bad time. The emergence of the likes of Westerman have given him an even bigger job of forcing his way into Smith's World Cup plans. And Jones-Buchanan, like Smith, is a huge fan of the Cas teenager.

"Smithy picks on form, he picked a fantastic squad for France, so it's going to be really tough to get in there," he said.

"Joe's fantastic. It's brilliant for him and Foxy (Hull KR winger Peter Fox) to get in, and it's testament to how young lads can get in from the smaller clubs.

"He's the ideal stature for a backrower, so strong and fit and can go for 80 minutes, and that's the way the game's going."

Westerman has weighed in with his fair share of tries for Cas

In fact, I was surprised to see him at the ground at all, let alone named on the replacements bench just 24 hours after narrowly missing out on an England debut in the south of France.

Westerman was not used in the comfortable success over the French in Toulouse.

"My head's still in the clouds a bit," said Westerman as he emerged fresh-faced from the dressing room to a host of autograph hunters and an unshaven BBC broadcaster with a feature to write.

"I got the plane this morning and got to Headingley just in time for kick off, so it was a bit of a rush.

"I was gonna get the bus back from Gatwick with the Leeds boys, but I managed to get one of the sponsors' cars to drive me and Foxy up here.

"It had to be done. I didn't play for England, so I was itching for a game and I just got up here as soon as I could."

He had another top game, too. Even watching him warm up, you can sense a young kid in love with rugby league.

As he went through his drills on the touchline, he was visibly distracted by the action on the pitch, into which he was finally unleashed for Ned Catic midway through the first half.

His first touch was a powerful drive. His second a deft grubber fielded by the Rhinos.

The first glimpse of his precocious talent came with a lightning 60m break after half-time. It was a drive which set up a great field position, allowing Westerman himself to pluck a superb catch from a high bomb on the last tackle and dive in to score his 10th try of his debut Super League season.

606: DEBATE Westerman is a class act BBC Radio 5 Live's George Riley

At 18, Westerman became a father for the first time in May, when he and girlfriend Lauren welcomed Brooke Elizabeth into the world. A mature man, a very mature footballer.

"Joe has tremendous talent and also a commitment and desire to succeed," says the Tigers chief executive Richard Wright, who has tied the club's young superstar to the Jungle for a further four years. "His attitude to training and playing is first class."

There were plenty more moments of class from the 6'3" forward during his Headingley cameo.

He was narrowly denied a second score when his terrific angled run was halted just short.

Then he surprisingly re-emerged from the dugout following a hefty smack to the ribs to almost save Cas with a late effort in the corner, just failing to flick the pass out with the clock winding down.

It didn't take the shine off his performance, though, even if he did rack up a bit of a telephone bill convincing his coach to let him play so soon after landing from France.

"It was his call today to play, there was no pressure from me," Terry Matterson told me afterwards.

Westerman has power, pace and a nice line in hand-offs

"We had someone else in line who could have played, but Joe wouldn't stop ringing me all week to ask if he could play in this derby, so good on him.

"He was buzzing when he got here and I didn't really have much time to talk to him, but I'll sit down and chat with him this week.

"He's thoroughly enjoyed the experience and he's got some new mates now, too, so he might brush us Cas lot now!!"

Westerman seems far too grounded to let his meteoric rise go to his head.

"They are good set of guys at Cas, so you can tell Terry I won't be brushing them!" he told me when I relayed Matterson's jibe. "But playing with all the others players from other clubs at England was a big step up for me.

"I didn't expect the call. I'd just played at the time, so I got home and was getting ready for something to eat with my girlfriend when Smithy called me on my mobile.

"It was a big shock, I couldn't believe it at first and it didn't sink in until the next day. I've had a taste of it now, so I really want the World Cup. I've just got to play well and see what happens.

Westerman is Smith's type of player and I fully expect him on that plane, even if Matterson remains cautious.

"The World Cup is his goal now but there's a long way to go there," said the Cas boss.

"He's had a sniff of it and I guess now we'll find out at the end of the year if it was an experience for the World Cup or one for future years. The ball is in his court now."

Westerman has laid down a strong marker down for an England jersey - and it's my understanding that he is one of two Castleford players that Tony Smith is eyeing. Don't be at all surprised to see Michael Shenton make the next squad.

You should look at Shenny, too... he's the quickest player we've got at the club now Dwain Chambers has gone! Andrew Henderson

Shenton used to share a house with my good mate Andrew Henderson, the Cas hooker, so I've had him raving about the pair of them non stop.

"Joe and Michael Shenton have a great shot for England," Henderson told me.

"You should look at Shenny, too. He's the quickest player we've got at the club now Dwain Chambers has gone!"

As for the likes of Jones-Buchanan, he may have to ask for a few more games at centre if he's to make the World Cup flight to Australia!

"Ha ha, I don't know about that! There's a few of them in front of me too," he joked.

True, but for versatility, dedication, and passion alone, I'd take JJB. Places, though, are at a premium and I'd also take Westerman.

Jones-Buchanan could end up unlucky. Westerman looks poised for an explosive few months.

Now it's your turn to tell us who we should take a look at next. Click the link on the right-hand side of the page and give us your view!