OVER the past decade, Wembley has become something of a second home for Ben Westwood.

The veteran Warrington Wolves forward has starred in five Challenge Cup finals for the Wire in that time – winning three in 2009, 2010 and 2012.

He also ran out on the hallowed turf for his country during the 2011 Four Nations and the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

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Westwood lifting the cup in 2009 and 2012

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If picked to play by head coach Steve Price, Super Bennie will make his final appearance at the national stadium this weekend – with the club’s longest serving player set to hang up his boots at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old said: "It’s always an honour and always special to go back to Wembley, and this will be another special occasion.

"I soak it up every time I go, because you never know when you’re going to go back and I played for 12 or 13 years before I got there for the first time.

"But I will cherish this one, whether I’m playing or not, as it’s going to be my last.

"It’s a fantastic weekend, and if you can get that win then it makes it even better."

His sixth cup final will see Wolves billed as underdogs – more than they have for any of the club’s other appearances at Wembley during the Super League era.

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Super Ben was in the Wire sides who tasted defeat at Wembley in 2016 and 2018

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But the outsider tag is one that the squad will relish.

Westwood added: "In 2010 and 2012 with Leeds, they were a great team – and even with the first one in 2009, we were ninth in the league at the time.

"We’ve been underdogs before, so I don’t really think it matters.

"When it comes to a final, anything can happen on the day – it’s about whoever performs on the day, and both teams will be raring to go.

"We never take much notice of what people think and say about us, it’s about us doing our jobs well."

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Celebrating the 2009 Wembley win

Now that the end of his playing career is looming, he is on the lookout for a new challenge.

So could his future lie in the kitchen?

Any followers of the Wire stalwart’s Instagram will have noticed that he is a talented cook, leading to suggestions that he could set up his own restaurant post-retirement.

The former England star said: "When people say that they can’t cook, I think it’s an absolute load of rubbish – I think people just can’t be bothered to cook.

"You can just read the instructions and follow them, it’s not hard.

"I get a lot of people saying to me that you should open a restaurant or a café, but I only do it once every week or two – I like to nail a recipe, so I can’t see myself doing it every lunch or dinner."