WORLD CUP: Benny's time to deliver
10:00am Thursday 9th October 2008
WOLVES forward Benny Westwood is aiming to make up for lost time after being selected to represent England in the Rugby League World Cup.
Westwood, joined in Tony Smith’s 24-man squad by clubmates Adrian Morley and Martin Gleeson as well as Wigan’s Warrington-bound hooker Mickey Higham, has been close to a senior international appearance before and now he wants to make the most of the opportunity that many believe is deserving of his consistent club performances.
In a squad offering Smith eight back-row options when the competition opens against Papua New Guinea in Australia on October 25, Westwood knows he must catch the eye when he starts at left second row in England’s only warm-up game against Wales at Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium tomorrow, Friday, kick-off 7.35pm.
The wholehearted 27-year-old back rower said: “I set a goal at the start of the year to get picked for the squad and now the goal is to get in the 17 who play.
“I’ve been so close before and that has just driven me on a bit more to do better each year.
“In 2005 I was going to Spain for the training camp ahead of the Tri-Nations but it must have been a last-second choice to select Stephen Wild over me.
“I went to Australia with the training squad in 2006 and ended up coming home.
“Last year I was set to play for Northern Union against the All Golds (centenary international) but became ill.”
Westwood, who was a travelling reserve for the one-off clash with France in June, added: “Now I’m in the starting line-up on Friday and it’s up to me to have a big game.
“It’s a game for players who haven’t played for a couple of weeks to get some match fitness.
“But for me it’s a big test. I don’t want to just go to Australia and not play.
“I’m looking forward to showing what I can do at a bit of a higher level and if I can have a good game Tony Smith might see something in me to select me in the World Cup itself.”
Like Westwood, international regulars Morley and Gleeson have not had a game since Wolves’ play-off exit to Catalans Dragons in France on September 13.
Morley, only one of four specialist props in the England squad, will not play against Wales in a bid to prevent risking damage to a stomach injury that is well on the mend.
Gleeson will captain England for the first time from the stand-off spot, while Higham, who joins Wolves from Wigan in November, will start at hooker.