2013 Super Bennie Westwood Testimonial Brochure

MIKE ‘STEVO’ STEPHENSON
Westwood is entertainment on legs, a super star that lifts
the volume amongst the supporters.
If you put Ben Westwood on a restaurant
menu you would get a dish described as
‘hot, and spicy’, throw him into the pages
of the Oxford Dictionary and the
description would suggest ‘Tough,
uncompromising and dangerous’, add
him to the Highway Code and you would
be warned to ‘Look both Ways’ before
advancing forward, shove him onto the
Pantomime stage and the kids would
scream out he was the one ‘Behind You’.
Yes, the Warrington hero needs no
encouragement to attract attention each
time he pulls on the boots and enters the
arena of Rugby League.
To ‘keep an eye out’ for him on the field of
play is a byword of all opposition players,
for they know only too well that the tyro
forward is capable of giving them a ‘Rib
Tickler’ at least once during a game.
Plenty of players over the years from
Super League and representative fixtures
have had ‘contact’ with the now 31 year
old, 16 stone bundle of energy who with
his presence alone demands respect.
All the top Aussies and Kiwis know they
are in for a ‘battle royal’ when they face up
to the Wolves favourite and say to a man
Ben is one tough character and his never
say die attitude has gained him a
reputation of never taking a backward
step. High praise indeed from ‘Down
Under’
The former centre, wing, has slowly but
surely turned into a top class forward
who offers 100% each time he pulls on a
jumper, be it at
club or country.
Playing over
350 games at
top level is a
wonderful
achievement
and he fully
deserves a
testimonial
to gain some reward for his efforts in the
‘Greatest Game of All’
It really is a pleasure to have the chance
to commentate on Ben Westwood on Sky
Sports because I know the ‘tempo’ rises
and so does my voice each and every
time Westwood is either tackling or running
with the ball.
Watching Bens attitude and playing skills
excites me enough to wish I were back
playing, smelling the rubbing oil and
hearing that magic roar from the crowd! …
I then gasp at one of Mr Westwood’s ‘Big
Hits’ or a ‘Barging Run’ and realise how
lucky and sensible enough I was to retire,
and stay retired !
Even the opposition fans have to
admit his efforts are top class and
deep down they hold a feeling of ‘
I wish he was playing for us!’
Such admiration and respect from fans
and players puts him into a rare class of
sportsmen, a good bloke who you would
nvite to your BBQ and have a few ‘Cold
Ones’, have a good chat,laugh and giggle
and maybe later have a quick game of
‘Touch and Pass’.
On second thoughts, maybe not the
latter!!!
Donate big time, he deserves it.
BARRY MCDERMOTT
Congratulations on a
fabulous career at
Warrington Wolves and it is
an honor to pay tribute to a
warrior on the rugby field.
Ben has the intelligence, courage and
drive that you would want in any rugby
league player but still follows one
the most important principles of any
good forward “they can’t run without
their heads” a much underestimated
tactic......
I still enjoy watching the big men, the
enforcers of our game that stand toe to
toe with the opposition and do what has
to be done and put their heads where
others wouldn’t put their kit bag for the
10 years that Ben has been with the
Wolves he has played in virtually every
position from front row to centre with as
much commitment as he showed when
he was asked to kick the goals.
I haven’t been lucky enough to play in
the same team as him but I would have
enjoyed being in the trenches knowing
he would do whatever was required.
As a fan and spectator he is a pleasure
to watch, as a coach and a moulder of
young men he is the example I would
show any young forward and typifies
what it means to be a team player and
as a commentator admire the way he
plays the game.
Mate you deserve all the accolades that
you will receive this year our
players still don’t get enough in credit in
my opinion so try to accept the praise
that you deserve on an outstanding
career for club and country.
Warrington is a wonderful club and I’m
sure they will find a role for for you to
pass on your experience at whatever
level
SUPER BENNIE WESTWOOD TESTIMONIAL 2012 PAGE 17
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