Ben Cross (rugby league)

Ben Cross (born 6 December 1978 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and is a specialist coach with the PNG Hunters in the Qld Cup.[2] A New South Wales State of Origin representative prop, he previously played for Canberra Raiders, Melbourne Storm, Newcastle Knights, Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and Widnes Vikings.

Ben Cross
Cross playing for the Knights in 2009.
Personal information
Full nameBenjamin Cross
Born (1978-12-06) 6 December 1978
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Height191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight112 kg (17 st 9 lb)[1]
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–05 Canberra Raiders 24 0 0 0 0
2006–07 Melbourne Storm 32 0 0 0 0
2008–10 Newcastle Knights 39 0 0 0 0
2011 Leeds Rhinos 10 0 0 0 0
2011 Wigan Warriors 5 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Widnes Vikings 30 2 0 0 8
Total 140 2 0 0 8
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007–08 Country Origin 2 0 0 0 0
2008 New South Wales 2 0 0 0 0

Early life

Born at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Cross was educated at Batemans Bay High School.

Ben played his junior rugby league for Batemans Bay Tigers.

Playing career

Cross, also known as "The Boss", had an explosive start to his National Rugby League career with a suspension for striking following his début match in 2003. He moved to Melbourne Storm, and they reached the 2006 NRL Grand Final in which Cross was selected to play from the interchange bench in Melbourne's loss to Brisbane. There was another citing for contrary conduct was made against him for an incident in the 2007 NRL Telstra Grand Final. The charge resulted in a two-week suspension.

A powerful ball-runner, Cross endeared himself to Melbourne Storm fans with his wholehearted efforts and aggression. In the 2007 NRL season, Melbourne again reached the grand final where they defeated Manly-Warringah at Telstra Stadium. This premiership was later stripped by the NRL for major and deliberate breaches of the salary cap.[3]

In August, 2008, Cross was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[4][5]

Late in 2010, Cross re-signed with Newcastle for 2011, however in October, 2010 Leeds offered Cross a two-year deal. Cross asked the Knights for a release and it was granted.[6] Cross was then released by Leeds mid season by mutual consent. On 12 July 2011 he joined Wigan until the end of the season, and on the same day it was announced he would join Widnes for the 2012 season.

He scored his first ever professional try whilst playing for Widnes against Huddersfield in a victory 26–22 at Halton Stadium.

Coaching career

After the 2013 season, Cross returned to Newcastle, New South Wales to be an assistant coach to the Newcastle Knights' New South Wales Cup team.

On 11 March 2016, Cross was named the head coach of the New South Wales Rugby League Women's side.[7] Andy Patmore replaced him in 2019.

After resigning as the head coach of the New South Wales Rugby League Women's side,[8] Cross moved to Brisbane to be an assistant coach to the Brisbane Broncos' team. The Brisbane Broncos cut cross from their coaching staff in 2020.[9]

On 13 October 2021, Cross was named the head coach of the Ipswich Jets' team.[10][11]

References
  1. "Leeds Rhinos Players & Coaches 1st Team". web page. Leeds Rhinos. 2011. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  2. "Former NRL star Cross excited to join Hunters". 13 April 2021.
  3. "'They are ours': Why Cameron Smith will always recognise Storm's stripped premierships". Fox Sports. 31 July 2019.
  4. Liam FitzGibbon (1 August 2008). "Surprises in Kangaroos squad". "Fox Sports News (Australia)". Archived from the original on 8 August 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  5. "Veteran Lockyer named in Australian squad". International Herald Tribune. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  6. "CROSS RELEASED TO RHINOS – Newcastle Knights". Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2010.
  7. "Ben Cross named NSW women's coach". NRL.com. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  8. "Blues on lookout for new coach after Cross' Broncos switch". NRL.com. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  9. "Broncos assistant coach Ben Cross one of 20 Brisbane staffers to leave the club". couriermail.com.au. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  10. "Ipswich Jets name new head of football and Cup coach". qrl.com.au. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  11. "New Head of Football – Head Coach (Intrust Super Cup) Announced". ipswichjets.com. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
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