What an emotional watch. I don't know about everyone else, but the montage moving from previous highlights with Westwood's voice over to the end, where Westwood says thank you, really got me. That, and the mention of his daughters and wife.
It feels like the end of an era. Being a 23-year-old Wire fan, I have never seen a Warrington Wolves with out Ben Westwood, I have never known rugby league without Ben Westwood. Warrington without Westwood is a different club - he has been 'part of the furniture' for so long that even though he hasn't played much this season, his presence is still felt and will be missed greatly. There are certain legends of the game that I have seen in my relatively short time of watching the game - the likes of Kevin Sinfield, Sean Long, Sean O'Loughlin and James Roby spring to mind - but for Warrington, Westwood is the one.
Absolute pleasure to to spend 5 season with this legend @bennie_westwood one of the greats of our game 😘 https://t.co/ljGqKVjJDW— Daryl Clark (@Darylclark9) July 31, 2019
Westwood signed for Warrington from Wakefield in 2002 as a 20-year-old outside back who played at centre, or even on the wing. For the younger fans like myself, imagining Westwood playing on the wing is incomprehensible. In 2004, Wire made the transition from Wilderspool to the Halliwell Jones Stadium to mark a whole new era for the club and the following year, Westwood made the transition from centre to the forward pack, which also marked a whole new era for him. He became indispensable as either a second rower or a loose forward, and quickly emerged as a Warrington great. As early as 2007 he won Warrington's player of the year and in 2008 was named in Super League's Dream Team for the first time. He became a powerful and strong forward who was right among the best in the league, and always, always stayed loyal to Warrington.
2009 and 2010 brought Westwood's first silverware with the club, the former Wakefield player starting at second row in both Challenge Cup Final victories at Wembley. In 2011, Westwood missed some of the season through injury, but was still involved as his side won their first League Leaders' Shield. He would win a third cup in 2012, starting once again at second row. 2012 and 13 also brought Grand Final appearances for Westwood and Warrington, and despite the Old Trafford defeats, Westwood produced one of his greatest ever Wire performances in the 2013 playoff qualifier, scoring four tries to send Leeds Rhinos packing. The second rower made further appearances in Super League's Dream Team in 2010, 2011 and 2012, meaning he has been selected in the Dream Team four times.Sad day for Rugby League 😢What a legend of the game, was an honour to play 7 years with SBW! @bennie_westwood https://t.co/m4wdknORfO— Ben Currie (@BenoCurrie) July 31, 2019
In recent years, Westwood has continued to play in the biggest games in the sport: he played in both the Challenge Cup Final defeats in 2016 and 2018 and was involved in the Grand Final losses in the same years. Westwood has also had the chance to play for England at two World Cups, in 2008 and 2013, and finishes his career with 26 England caps and three tries. Even in 2019 when he has only played five games, it is telling that on Saturday at the end of the semi-final, it is Westwood's name that was sung the loudest. The fans adore him and the players do too - look at the way Daryl Clark and Ben Currie have spoken about him on Twitter today, as included in this piece.
Super Bennie Westwood. pic.twitter.com/cNtvlXajKJ— You’ve Got a Loose Wire (@ALooseWire) July 31, 2019
Westwood has represented our club wonderfully and is a fully-fledged club legend. He has given absolutely everything to Warrington Wolves and is by some distance the only player in the current squad to have played at both Wilderspool and the Halliwell Jones. It has been an honour to have him at the club and he will be remembered forever, particularly as it looks like his work coaching the women's team is going to continue, and it wouldn't surprise me if we see him coaching the men's team one day too. His commitment to the club has been phenomenal over the years and has given absolutely everything every time he's stepped onto the field. They simply don't make them like him any more. We are sure going to miss him. The club won't feel the same without him. Today is a very sad and emotional day, and all we can do now is wish Ben the very best in the rest of his career and life, and for now the focus has to be trying to win the Challenge Cup or the Grand Final, and send SBW on his way with a trophy. His last game is going to be torturous I'm sure, but I hope the fans give him the applause and love that he deserves. Undoubtedly one of Warrington's greatest ever legends. We will never see another like him, he has been the embodiment of the word 'hero' and I hope that this piece has come close to doing him justice. My rugby league hero, and the Warrington legend of my lifetime and generation.
Heritage number 1033. 439 Warrington games. Two stadiums. 18 seasons. 138 tries. 81 goals. 26 England caps. Three tries. Four Dream Team appearances. Six Challenge Cup Finals. Four Grand Finals. One Super Bennie Westwood.
I thank you, and I salute you.
Daniel (@aloosewire)
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