Ben Cross (rugby league footballer)
Encyclopedia
Ben Cross is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the Wigan Warriors
of the Super League
. A New South Wales State of Origin representative prop forward, he previously played for the Canberra Raiders
, the Melbourne Storm
, winning the premiership with them in 2007 and most recently, the Newcastle Knights
.
Ben Cross, also known as "The Boss", had an explosive start to his National Rugby League
career with a suspension for striking following his debut match in 2003. He moved to the Melbourne Storm
and they reached the 2006 NRL Grand Final in which Cross was selected to play from the interchange bench in the Storm'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, Ben Cross endeared himself to Melbourne Storm fans with his wholehearted efforts and aggression. He was a member of Melbourne's Premiership team in 2007, and of the losing Grand Final team in 2006.
In August, 2008, Cross was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
.
Late in 2010, Cross resigned with the Knights for 2011, however in October, 2010 the Leeds Rhinos
offered Cross a 2-year deal. Cross asked the Knights for a release and it was granted. Cross was then released by the Rhinos mid season by mutual consent. On the 12th July 2011 he joined Wigan Warriors
until the end of the season, and on the same day it was announced he would join Widnes Vikings
for the 2012 season.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
of the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. A New South Wales State of Origin representative prop forward, he previously played for the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
, the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
, winning the premiership with them in 2007 and most recently, the Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
.
Ben Cross, also known as "The Boss", had an explosive start to his National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
career with a suspension for striking following his debut match in 2003. He moved to the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
and they reached the 2006 NRL Grand Final in which Cross was selected to play from the interchange bench in the Storm'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, Ben Cross endeared himself to Melbourne Storm fans with his wholehearted efforts and aggression. He was a member of Melbourne's Premiership team in 2007, and of the losing Grand Final team in 2006.
In August, 2008, Cross was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
.
Late in 2010, Cross resigned with the Knights for 2011, however in October, 2010 the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
offered Cross a 2-year deal. Cross asked the Knights for a release and it was granted. Cross was then released by the Rhinos mid season by mutual consent. On the 12th July 2011 he joined Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
until the end of the season, and on the same day it was announced he would join Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
for the 2012 season.