RETIRING Warrington Wolves star Ben Westwood says he is 'honoured' after collecting his Lifetime Achievement Award.

The second row was given the title to mark his remarkable contribution to the Wire but could not make it to the Warrington Guardian Inspiration Awards ceremony earlier this month.

When this giant of the game of rugby league arrived in Warrington from Wakefield 17 years ago, many would have predicted the impact he would make on opposing forwards – but not perhaps on the Wolves team and the town for the best part of two decades.

The former England man cemented his place as a legend this year, being the only continuous member of the team that ended Warrington’s 35-year wait for a Challenge Cup win when they beat Huddersfield at Wembley 10 years ago.

That is why Warrington Guardian judges considered him the worthy winner of the Lifetime Achievement to Sport award for the 2019 Inspiration Awards.

He would repeat the feat for back-to-back Wembley successes a year later and then completed the hat-trick in 2012 when Wolves won their third Challenge Cup in three years.

By some distance, Ben is the only remaining player in the club to have spent some of his career playing home matches at Wilderspool Stadium.

Last year, he celebrated his 500-match milestone.

He is now about to become an honorary citizen of the borough at a ceremony at the Town Hall next month.

Ben was unable to attend the awards evening as he was away on holiday so Warrington Wolves vice chairman and chief executive of Warrington Borough Council Steven Broomhead collected the award on Ben's behalf.

Mr Broomhead paid tribute to the star saying he was a valuable contributor to the community of Warrington – as well as on the pitch.