Having the edge gives Westwood the desire to succeed

Given his always abrasive and aggressive performances, whether for England or Warrington Wolves, it is often forgotten this commanding forward started out as a centre at Wakefield Trinity.

The fiery Yorkshireman will be charging around in the pack as normal today as England look to pick up their first World Cup win against Ireland at Huddersfield.

Westwood will typically sport yet another war-wound, 15 stitches in his head after being bloodied and bandaged during last week’s loss against Australia.

Any sort of melee and he is never far from it, a naturally spiky player who missed the infamous pre-tournament loss to Italy after being banned for punching Blake Green in Warrington’s Grand Final loss to Wigan.

Westwood – now 32 – concedes he has always had that edge about him, even in those early days hanging out wide as a three-quarter.

“I got sent off back then as well for high tackles and stuff,” he said.

“Off the field I am a bit of a softy. I don’t like confrontation. Maybe I use all my anger on the field, but I’d never say I am a dirty player.

“I like to play the game hard and tough and let people know I am about.

“I started at stand-off for my amateur club (Normanton Knights).

“Then I signed for Wakefield and was a full-back before ending up in the centres. But Dave Topliss always used to say after watching my Academy games: ‘You will end up in the second row, Benny.’ And he was right.”

Topliss, the late ex-Trinity stand-off who was in the last Great Britain squad to win the World Cup in 1972, was not just a fine player, but always a fine judge of one too.

“In 2004, I had the worse season I probably have ever had,” continued Westwood.

“Warrington signed two centres – Toa Kohe-Love and Martin Gleeson – for 2005, and I was wondering where I was going to play.

“I ended up getting a bench spot but Paul Wood got an ankle injury with his first touch and I was on. They told me ‘just take the ball up and tackle.

“So, I went from wing to centre to prop all in one go. I ended up scoring a couple of tries and finished with man of the match.

“I loved the physicality of it all and I never looked back.”

Speaking about that Old Trafford incident, when he flattened ex-Hull KR half-back Green in only the second minute in an incident missed by the officials, he recalled: “It was a bad one.

“I’ve seen the replays and I don’t know what to say to be honest.

“I did cop a little bit of a stray elbow in the chest in the first couple of minutes. I just thought ‘you little t***.’ But I didn’t mean to hit him in the face. I just wanted to let him know I was there.

“Unfortunately, it went wrong. But I have said sorry and paid the punishment.

“I am under the spotlight now and any little thing I do I get caught. I am just going to keep my head down for a few years now.”

He received nine stitches above his eye in the Grand Final – “I don’t learn, do I? I am getting older. I should be conscious of not tackling with my head” – before meeting the Kangaroos head on.

After that 26-20 loss in Cardiff, it is imperative England respond with victory over Ireland.

“We wanted to stamp our mark against Australia and I think we did in the early part of the game,” he said.

“It’s just a shame we fell away, just before and after half time.

“It was disappointing but I know we’ve enough in us to out-play them.

“We won’t be able to do that until the final so we have got to make sure we get there now.”

Westwood will no doubt be locking horns with one of his young Warrington protégés today, Ben Currie, the precocious back-row who represented England Academy but has opted to feature now with Ireland.

“Ben is a class young player,” he said. “He chose Ireland I am guessing to experience the World Cup.

“He is still only young so this is only going to be good for him.

“I am expecting him – in a couple of years – to be in this England squad as I have faith in the ability he’s got.

“But not just yet. Let’s wait until I retire...”

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