2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 PAGE 30 SUPER BENNIE WESTWOOD TESTIMONIAL 2012 12 11 12 SBW <strong>Testimonial</strong> Programme.indd 30 12/11/2012 11:20
RAY FRENCH <strong>Westwood</strong>……. Time was when,the next morning,following a match at Workington I lay on my bed nursing the aches and pains coming from my back and easing my bones beneath the blanket and sheets in order not to aggravate the bruising on my legs and shoulders. A cup of tea and a newspaper offered me comfort from the physical demands of what had been a tough,rough game punctuated by a couple of match winning tries from my Saints’ second row partner,the powerful, speedy international backrower, Dick Huddart. Dick rightly earned the headlines and the first nine paragraphs of the glowing match report for his dashing runs,defence breaking bursts,and his two spectacular tries. I welcomed a one line tribute at the end of the report – “And Ray French worked hard!” Such a tribute probably helps me to understand more than most the value of Ben <strong>Westwood</strong> to the Warrington Wolves and England sides for,though he has a fine goalkicking record,has,thanks to his days spent playing at centre, the pace of a back,and regularly grabs a try or two with his powerful bursts he is the backbone of any team. Any successful team must have the correct balance among its players and, in all trophy winning sides,there must be one player who sets the lead up front for all the forwards. There must be at least one pack star who calls for the ball when near his own try line and who “takes it up” against the combined efforts of the opposite six. There must be one who never shirks the action when the battle between the two packs overheats,and there must be a forward who relishes tackling so much that he almost becomes a single-handed destroyer of the opposition’s best attacking strikes. Such a player is Ben <strong>Westwood</strong>. And Ben retains the finest accolade any rugby league player can gain. He is rightly admired by the fans but, more importantly, he is “the players’ player”,appreciated by all his team mates for the non stop eighty minutes contributions he makes throughout every game. Not only is Ben an example to the players via his efforts on the pitch but,whatever their impact and the results, he always has a smile on his face and enjoys his rugby – factors which can often inspire and give hope to the quieter and more nervous of his team mates. He leads from the front and sets the standards and the example for his colleagues. It is a pleasure to record a tribute to Ben for not only has he given me many years of enjoyment while doing my TV and Radio commentaries but he has always generously made himself available to me for interviews or a casual chat both before and after games. He has welcomed the fans whenever they have demanded his time and helped to spread the impact of our great game. He is rightly respected by all for his contributions to rugby league both on and off the pitch and deserves the rewards to be gained from a well earned <strong>Testimonial</strong>. Thanks for the memories, Ben. PAUL CULLEN Ben has proven to be one of the best signings that Simon Moran has ever made. He had already been recruited to the Wolves along with Nathan Wood from Wakefield before I returned to the club in 2002. Just like Nathan he was a favourite of every player in the dressing room because of his infectious positive attitude and his fully committed performances in the gym, the training field, off field duties and most importantly, when he crossed the whitewash to play. He very quickly expressed his athletic skills in almost every aspect of our work, he inspired the phrase “ that there is nothing he can’t do ! “ or that’s the polite version of it anyway.... When we needed a presence in the centres, <strong>Bennie</strong> was our man, when we needed help in the front row, <strong>Bennie</strong> was our man, when we needed someone to take over where Logan Swann left off at right second row, <strong>Bennie</strong> was our man. His versatility was a secondary consideration to his bravery; we needed a player to hit a hole regardless of whether there was one there or not to allow Lee Briers to maximise the potential of Martin Gleeson. Ben accepted this initial role and then transformed it and his position on Warrington’s right edge, to a status that has now become Warrington folklore. <strong>Bennie</strong> has presence, in exactly the same sense that we accept when Adrian Morley walks into a room or onto the pitch. His career spans the worst and potentially the best times ever witnessed by Warrington supporters. He is resilient, relentless and above all respected by his fellow team mates, old and current, his opponents and the supporters of our game. I have followed Bens career with great pleasure, proud that I played a part in it but more than anything, satisfied that <strong>Bennie</strong> has been the best he can be; we can ask no more of any player. SUPER BENNIE WESTWOOD TESTIMONIAL 2012 PAGE 31 12 11 12 SBW <strong>Testimonial</strong> Programme.indd 31 12/11/2012 11:20
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