 Cross playing for the Knights in 2009. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Benjamin Cross | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1978-12-06)6 December 1978 (age 46) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 112 kg (17 st 9 lb)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:Rugby League Project | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Matt Cross (brother) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ben Cross (born 6 December 1978 inWagga Wagga, New South Wales) is an Australian former professionalrugby league footballer and coach. A New South Wales State of Origin representativeprop, he previously played forCanberra Raiders,Melbourne Storm,Newcastle Knights,Leeds Rhinos,Wigan Warriors andWidnes Vikings.
Born atWagga Wagga, New South Wales. Cross was educated atBatemans Bay High School.
Ben played his junior rugby league forBatemans Bay Tigers.
Cross, also known as "The Boss", had an explosive start to hisNational Rugby League career with a suspension for striking following his début match in 2003. He moved toMelbourne Storm, and they reached the2006 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 the2007 NRL Telstra Grand Final. The charge resulted in a two-week suspension.
A powerful ball-runner, Cross endeared himself toMelbourne Storm fans with his wholehearted efforts and aggression. In the2007 NRL season, Melbourne again reached the grand final where they defeatedManly-Warringah atTelstra Stadium. This premiership was later stripped by theNRL for major and deliberate breaches of the salary cap.[2]
In August, 2008, Cross was named in thepreliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the2008 Rugby League World Cup.[3][4]
Late in 2010, Cross re-signed withNewcastle for 2011, however in October, 2010Leeds offered Cross a two-year deal. Cross asked the Knights for a release and it was granted.[5] Cross was then released by Leeds mid season by mutual consent. On 12 July 2011 he joinedWigan until the end of the season, and on the same day it was announced he would joinWidnes for the 2012 season.
He scored his first ever professional try whilst playing forWidnes againstHuddersfield in a victory 26–22 atHalton Stadium.
After the 2013 season, Cross returned toNewcastle, New South Wales to be an assistant coach to theNewcastle Knights'New South Wales Cup team.
On 11 March 2016, Cross was named the head coach of theNew South Wales Rugby League Women's side.[6]Andy Patmore replaced him in 2019.
After resigning as the head coach of theNew South Wales Rugby League Women's side,[7] Cross moved toBrisbane to be an assistant coach to theBrisbane Broncos' team. TheBrisbane Broncos cut Cross from their coaching staff in 2020.[8]
In April 2021, Cross joined thePNG Hunters in theQueensland Cup as a specialist coach.[9]
On 13 October 2021, Cross was named the head coach of theIpswich Jets' team.[10][11]
Following a string of losses during the2024 Queensland Cup season, Cross was sacked by the Jets.[12][13] During his tenure at Ipswich, the Jets encountered heavy defeats including going winless through the2023 Queensland Cup season.