BEN Currie put winger Kevin Penny over for the winning try at Leeds Rhinos on Thursday. Here, in the second feature in this year’s player-on-player series, England international Currie lifts the lid on his Wolves teammate

AS a kid watching rugby league on TV, I used to hear Kevin Penny’s name all the time.

He was as fast as lightning down the wing.

I never would have thought I would end up playing in the same team as him.

Growing up, I didn’t base any of my game on his – we’re completely different, though I might have taken some of his speed off him (ha ha).

Truthfully, he’s just as quick now, a very fit lad, and an unbelievable talent.

I’ve often played second row on his side of the field and moved to his centre after any injuries. So I’ve been there with him and I think he owes me from last year because I set up most of his tries... I think.

If you can make a break or half a break and you look over your shoulder for someone to finish a try off, Kev’s always there with his pace. He’s a really good player to have in your side.

Of course, he went away from the club for a spell but came back three years ago and has done really well for us.

Warrington did well to snap him back up. I think it was before I made my first-team debut that I was playing for Warrington’s reserves against Wakefield and was playing against him. They were one of the lower teams in Super League at the time and yet he was in their reserves.

It seemed daft how you could go from the top to the bottom but he’s worked his way back up again and is flying with us now.

When he left here, he had to work as well as play rugby sometimes. He could have easily quit and walked away, finding it all too difficult.

But he stuck at it and is being rewarded for it now. It shows that if you really want something in life you’ve got to stick at it, never give up.

The fans love him. Rumour is more shirts have been sold this year with his name on the back than any other player. We’re not happy about that!

There’s still time for people to catch him up yet. Please buy a shirt and put a different name on it. Only joking, Kev! I’m pleased for him that people are buying shirts and that he’s one of the fans’ favourites.

It doesn’t go to his head and you can see why the fans do like him.

On the field, he’s very loud. The winger’s job sometimes is to shout out tackle counts and stuff like that. You can always hear him and he’s always sniffing round for some work to do.

In training, you can usually hear him before you see him. If someone tells a joke that’s not even that funny, you’ll still hear him laughing away somewhere. He’s always lively around the place, always seems to have a smile on his face.

In the changing room before a game, he never sits still. He’s always walking round with a ball in his hand. He likes his music on his headphones too, so keeps himself to himself at times. But just before kick off he likes to be vocal again as we get ready to go out on the field.

Away from rugby, he loves his basketball and we have a little rivalry between us in the football.

He’s a United fan, I support Liverpool. Each week it might be his team or my team that loses, and we always give it to each other with the banter.