Westwood ready to fight (From Warrington Guardian)

Westwood ready to fight

BEN Westwood hopes that being named man of the series in the European Nations Cup will be the spark of better times for him at Warrington Wolves.

The aggressive centre beat a host of big name players to the award and is confident that he can take his fine form at international level into next season's Super League campaign.

The 23-year-old said: "I struggled at times last season but I was very pleased with how I performed for England in the European Nations Cup.

"I could have played better in the final on Sunday when we beat Ireland 36-12 but I was struggling with the flu."

Sunday's game represented the first international to be played at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Westwood said: "I showed what I can do earlier in the competition and to beat the likes of Rob Burrow and Mark Calderwood to the man of the series is a great confidence booster.

"There will be a lot of competition for the centre spots at Warrington Wolves next season having signed Martin Gleeson and Toa Kohe-Love.

"It will be a big challenge to get into the side but I intend to knuckle down in training and have a good season."

While the European Nations Cup has been enjoyable there could also be a further carrot to aim at for players in the England squad.

Westwood said: "There are rumours of a five-week tour of Australia and New Zealand next year. So maybe if I've impressed in my performances there could be a space for me on that."

Leading up to Sunday's final Westwood was away for nine days with the England squad to take in both the Russia and France group games and it proved to be a memorable experience for him.

He said: "Not many people can say they were walking through Red Square in Moscow one weekend and having a night out in St Tropez the next weekend. Of course, there was a lot of hard training in between and we all enjoyed being together.

"I didn't know any of the players before the competition but they're all great blokes and we all clicked. It's a good team spirit and I think that took us through to the final because we wanted to work for each other.

"Going to Russia was an experience. We didn't know what their team was going to be like but as you can see from the 98-4 scoreline they were not up to our standard.

"But I've never played a match on astro turf before and there were a few players with grazed knees as a result. And there were American football posts instead of rugby posts, so that was different.

"There weren't a lot of people there unfortunately. The Olympic Stadium in Moscow fits in 75,000 people and there were only about 200 there. There were more when France played them the week before but France's big win there probably had an affect on the turnout.

"We stayed at the Olympic Stadium, which was good. However, there were a lot of security people around with guns, which was a bit of an eye opener.

"We had a few drinks with the players after the game and they are very much developing in the game at the moment. They'll get better as they go on."

Now Westwood's focus returns to giving Warrington Wolves his best shot next season.

And next year Westwood, who has three years left on his Wolves contract, will be less inconvenient for him in terms of travelling up and down the M62 for training and matches from Wakefield.

Westwood said: "I've been living in Warrington for about eight weeks now and have moved in next door to Nathan Wood. That means every day is exciting and you never know what's going to happen as he is a bit of a practical joker.

"I've got my door and window locks sorted and the curtains all have to be shut in case he comes round with a mask on, which he has done to players before.

"I'm enjoying Warrington, I like the club and the town. I thought I'd miss home in Wakefield but I've not at all, except my mum and dad and I get to see them every week still.

"My daughter's fitted in fine at school in Warrington and so everything is coming together.

"I feel having another three years on contract with Warrington is going to be good for me. Next year's another challenge and I can't wait for it."