PAT Moran says his Warrington Wolves debut was made all the more memorable by the players around him.

The 20-year-old Wiganer got his maiden taste of first-team football off the bench in Saturday’s 54-6 Challenge Cup fifth-round success against Bradford Bulls at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

He got to feature alongside one of his rugby league heroes, as well as players he came through the ranks with, in a solid start to his top-flight career two years after turning professional full-time.

“At one point I looked to my side and it just sank in. Wow, I’m playing alongside Bennie Westwood - and I grew up watching him,” said Moran, who has been on Wire’s books since he was 15.

“Bennie gave me my shirt before the game and it was pretty emotional.”

Moran looks up to the former England international who is nearing 500 career games and is in his 17th season with The Wire.

“I spend a lot of time with Bennie. He’s a great role model and a great bloke,” said Moran, who started out at Wigan St Judes.

“I’ve learnt a lot of things off Bennie. I do a lot of extras with him in training. Just being around him is good because he’s a top bloke and a happy person.

“Sharing the field with a lot of those players was a dream come true.

“I came through the under 19s with Morgan Smith and Harvey Livett, playing quite a lot of my academy rugby with them two so it was brilliant to share the field with them as well.

“We’re all competing against each other for places but we’re all really happy to play alongside each other.”

The prop forward, no relation to Wolves owner Simon Moran, only found out he was in the starting 17 the day before the game, though he had been named in the 19-man squad last Thursday.

“Steve left me quivering in my boots wondering,” he said with a smile.

“I really enjoyed it and it was everything I could have wished for.

“I’m still only young, I’m 20 now, but I’ve been working hard for this - always biting at the chomp, always chasing the heels of the older fellas, competing in training, doing everything to the best of my ability and I’m just glad that Pricey’s believed in me and let me have a run out with the big fellas.

“It’s now a massive aim to make my Super League debut this season. I’ll take any games I can get but hopefully I can keep proving to Pricey that I can run with the big fellas now.

“Hopefully he’ll believe me, I can keep going and take the next step.”

Prior to Saturday, Moran had been plying his trade this season in the Championship on dual registration with Wire’s partner club Rochdale Hornets.

“I’ve been enjoying it,” he said.

“I’ve needed the game time. It’s been a big step up from playing under 19s last year to challenging myself against men.

“That’s the challenge and I hope I’ve been doing well. Hopefully it’s the start of a long journey for me.”

And he acknowledged that his Wire debut felt like another step up.

“The speed out there was unbelievably fast,” he said.

“I can still do little things better in training to hopefully catch up to the speed of play, keep improving myself each week and hopefully I’ll get a chance of making my Super League debut this season.

“I think I can offer a lot of things, such as my energy and enthusiasm as a young lad.

“I rub off other lads and their energy and enthusiasm. I love the environment, I love my job and getting paid for something I love to do.

“I hope I’ve pleased the fans and they enjoyed my first run-out.”

He had a poignant moment the night before his debut.

“Before Warrington I did my amateur days at Wigan St Judes,” he said.

“Funnily enough, I popped into a surprise 50th on Friday night and I was chatting to my old amateur coach.

“I can’t thank enough the people who were around me growing up as a kid, the support I had and my family.

“If it wasn’t for all of them I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”