FELLOW forward Mike Cooper has paid tribute to teammate Bennie Westwood on the eve of his 500th game of professional rugby league.

He says the oldest man in Super League continues to impress and believes the 36-year-old, out of contract at the end of the year, should play on into an 18th season in Wire colours.

Westwood Q&A: 500 appearances, playing on...and golf

"What a great player he’s been for this club and for Wakefield previously," says Cooper, whose history with Westwood in primrose and blue goes back to 2006.

"He’s just a very, very hard man.

"He puts his body through the line, through all the rigmarole every week.

Junior fans ask Bennie questions like 'How many sausages do you have for breakfast?'

"As he’s getting older he’s getting a lot wiser in terms of looking after himself and the way he approaches games.

"He’s not slowing down too much and he’s a great character to have in the team.

Warrington Guardian:

"There’s not too many people around like Bennie any more.

"Hopefully he can go round again for another year. I think he deserves another year with the way he’s playing."

Westwood's record in the modern era is astonishing, playing the number of games he has as a combative forward.

He can be placed in the illustrious company of fellow former Wire skipper Adrian Morley as well as another ex-England great Jamie Peacock in terms of durability and longevity.

His achievements are top-notch too, winning three of four Challenge Cup Final appearances, two League Leaders' Shields, making three Grand Final appearances as well as achieving his stack of England caps that include action in the 2008 and 2013 world cups.

"I was here in 2006 when Bennie really hit his prime," said Cooper, 29.

"And to think he’s still going now, just have a think about how long ago that was. It makes me start to feel a bit old.

“Five hundred games is just a bit difficult to comprehend.

"Just to be able to get yourself up every weekend at that level of intensity it takes its toll on the body but he is very smart now, he looks after himself, looks after his body and he’s a tough player.

"He’s very smart on the field too. He knows how to get around the field and avoid serious injuries.

“Let’s all campaign for one more year for Bennie Westwood."

Putting his appearance figures into perspective, only eight players have totted up more Super League games than the man Wire fans call 'Super Bennie Westwood.'

Less have clocked up more games for The Wire than he has.

If his 426th match in primrose and blue comes at Wigan on Friday that will also take him past assistant coach Lee Briers' total for the club and into eighth spot on a Wire all-time appearances' list led by Brian Bevan with 620.

The 500th career game milestone could not have fallen better for Westwood.

Leading the Warrington charge at Wigan, roared on by several thousand Wire fans banked behind the sticks at the DW Stadium, is his favourite away day of any year.

Cooper looks forward to the challenge too.

“Playing Wigan is always a great game," he said.

"We’ve had a couple of tough encounters with them already this year.

"It doesn’t get any better than Warrington versus Wigan. They’ll be fired up, we’ll be fired up, and it should be a great spectacle."

Ben Westwood’s Wire timeline:

June 13, 2002: Normanton Knights product Westwood signs as a 20-year-old on a two-and-a-half years contract from Wakefield Trinity for a Wolves record Super League transfer fee of £60,000.

June 18, 2002: Substitute for Yorkshire against Lancashire in the second game of the expanded County of Origin series.

June 22, 2002: Debut day for Wolves, scoring two tries at centre against London Broncos in an ‘on the road’ game played at the Albert Domec Stadium in Carcassonne, France.

June 29, 2002: Not a home debut to remember as Westwood features at centre in a 41-16 loss to Wigan.

July 29, 2002: Scores his first tries in a home game for Warrington in a 42-14 loss to Hull FC at Wilderspool. He crosses twice from left centre.

Warrington Guardian: Richie Mathers celebrates with Ben Westwood after a Wolves try against Hull at Wilderspool in 2002

September 21, 2003: Touches down twice in front of a sell-out crowd against his former club Wakefield in Wolves’ emotional last league game at Wilderspool Stadium, a 52-12 win for The Wire.

February 21, 2004: Features at left centre in first match at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

June 24, 2004: Registers his first hat-trick in primrose and blue, the tries coming in a 32-10 win at Castleford.

October 24, 2004: Makes a try-scoring debut for England – the country’s second-tier international team behind Great Britain – in the centres in a 98-4 victory over Russia in the European Nations Championship at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow. He crosses twice.

November 7, 2004: Wins his first medal as a Warrington player representing England in the centre in a 36-12 defeat of Ireland in the European Nations Championship Final at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

February 13, 2005: Makes an impact off the bench at prop for the first time in season-opening loss to London Broncos at Griffin Park. He scores a try.

May 12, 2006: Pulls on the shirt for 100th time at loose-forward in 34-22 defeat at St Helens.

March 18, 2007: Kicks his first goal in Wire colours in 30-12 home success against Hull KR.

September 15, 2008: Debut appearance in the Super League Dream Team, being named in the second row. Further selections follow in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Warrington Guardian:

October 10, 2008: Wins his first senior England cap in 74-0 defeat of Wales in Gillette Fusion International at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.

Warrington Guardian:

August 29, 2009: Achieves first winners’ medal for The Wire at loose-forward in Challenge Cup Final defeat of Huddersfield Giants at Wembley. Also a member of Wolves’ winning Wembley sides of 2010 and 2012.

Warrington Guardian:

September 5, 2009: Makes his 200th appearance in 40-16 loss at Hull KR.

September 16, 2011: Celebrates winning League Leaders’ Shield with Wolves for the first time.

October 6, 2012: Lines up in second row for Wolves’ inaugural Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford, a 26-18 loss to Leeds Rhinos.

January 26, 2013: Helps achieve a 20-0 win in his Testimonial game against Wigan Warriors at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Warrington Guardian:

June 2, 2013: Crosses for 100th club try among a hat-trick in 68-10 home win against Salford.

June 8, 2013: Touches down in 300th showing as The Wire record club record away win, 82-10 against London Broncos at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium.

Warrington Guardian:

October 5, 2013: Makes his second Grand Final appearance, featuring in the second row and scoring Wire's third try in a 30-16 loss to Wigan.

January 27, 2014: Takes up captaincy role jointly with Michael Monaghan following departure of Adrian Morley.

February 20, 2015: Leads the charge from loose-forward in his first World Club Series game, an 18-12 home loss to St George Illawarra Dragons.

August 12, 2017: Becomes only the second Wolves player to complete 400 club appearances entirely in the Super League era.

June 29, 2018: Draws level with Lee Briers in eighth spot on Wire's all-time appearances chart, his start at loose-forward against Salford Red Devils taking him to 425 Warrington games and 499 in total.