2013 Super Bennie Westwood Testimonial Brochure

PAUL WOOD
When Bennie signed for Warrington back
in 2002 I thought he was a quiet lad, he
sat on the back of the coach as we
travelled to the airport to depart for France
as we took on the London Broncos that
was an ‘on the road’ game and which was
to be Bennie & Nathan Woods first game
for the Wolves. Bennie played centre and
I was in the second row,
Bennie didn’t speak much at all but that
was due to him having a throat infection
and his glands being swollen, once that
was cleared up the real Bennie Westwood
was out.
I learned very quickly that Bennie called
‘a spade a spade’ and just said exactly
what he thought which I loved about him,
the things he said would always make you
giggle and you just knew he was a great
bloke.
I remember Bennie buying a new car
(even though he had no license) to bring
the Yorkshire bus over to Warrington, the
travelling group was, Nick Fozzard, Dale
Laughton, Kevin Crouthers and Nathan
Wood so there was some big lads in the
car!
Bennie bought a Peugeot 106, probably
the smallest car you could get, how
everyone squeezed into that car I’ll never
know.
Watching that Yorkshire bus pull away out
of our training ground was pure comedy.
When Bennie signed for Warrington as a
winger/centre I don’t think many
people would of predicted him to become
a second row forward and I think that
come about in 2005 when he moved
from centre and had to fill in at prop and
second row due to injuries and he played
outstanding and won man of the match on
numerous occasions,
I think that was when Paul Cullen saw a
world class player in Bennie.
He was very aggressive, hard running and
loved to fly in to put a big shot on in
defence, plus he would work endlessly for
the team, he’s never looked back and as
now become a world class player thats
performed at club level and international
level to a high standard consistently.
Bennie will be the first to admit he’s not
the hardest trainer but he defies sport
science because in a game he just keeps
going and going and I think that just
shows how mentally tough he his. He’ll do
the small things that make the big plays
happen but he also does the big plays
which have earned him the name Super
Bennie Westwood.
Everyone knows how good a player
Bennie Westwood his but away from the
game he’s also a great father and family
man, he loves spending time with his
daughters and they absolutely adore him.
I lived next door to Bennie for 18 Months
in 2006 and I saw what Bennie was like
away from the training ground, he’s very
hands on and loving to his family. He
would often be getting in the car taking
Tyler to Gullivers world with his partner
Deb or playing with her on the front of the
house on her bike and it was great to see.
I think that’s why Bennie is a
great role model because he
ticks all the boxes on and off
the field, he’s a tough man but
with such a loving side toward
his family its great.
Have a great testimonial year Bennie, you
deserve it!
Woody
ADRIAN MORLEY
I first met Bennie in the players bar at
Knowsley Road on a Tuesday night
after the one off GB test versus the
kiwis in 06.
My signing for the Wire had just been
announced,
“Looking forward to playing with you
Moz”.
“Yeah you too Bennie.”
To be honest I didn’t know a great deal
about Bennie then, only the fact he
was from my partner Clare’s hometown
of Normanton and used to babysit for
Clare’s friend Bev, I didn’t know then
that he was going to make a huge
impression on me over the coming
years.
At one of our earlier training sessions
in the gym I was ripping in and trying
to get Bennie to do the same when
he turned around and said strait faced
“Ever heard of saving your energy for
the game Moz?!”.
What could I say to that?
Sure enough he was outstanding at the
weekend and that quote probably sums
Bennie up, hardly the most enthusiastic
or energetic at training but come game
time he’s like a man possessed.
Over the last few years he’s took his
toughness, work ethic (in games
anyway!) and consistency to new
levels, being voted in the Super League
Dream team for 4 years straight, also a
regular starter for England.
He’s one of the finest players I’ve had
the pleasure of playing with.
Is there a more fitting
nickname than “SUPER”
Bennie Westwood?
Bennie’s not only a fantastic player but
a really popular character amongst the
Warrington squad, it’s fantastic news
that he’s been granted a testimonial, a
great servant to the Warrington club,
enjoy your year pal, you deserve it.
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